NO Confidence Flesh
Notes
Transcript
When Christ is preached (1:18) and even when being
poured out like a drink offering in suffering and persecution
(2:17-18), Paul says we are to “rejoice in the Lord, again I say
rejoice” (4:4). “The golden thread of spiritual joy runs through
this Epistle!”1 As the Psalmist so eloquently stated, we are to
go the altar of God, rejoice with exceeding joy and sing to God
who is our strength and refuge in times of trouble (32:11, 33:1,
43:4, 46:1). Paul does not hesitate to repeat this command2 for
not only was it essential for “transcending all the sorrows and
sufferings caused by living for Christ”3 and the key to standing
firm in the Gospel (1:27),4 but rejoicing is also essential to
safeguarding one’s faith in the Lord (3:1)! To keep the church
of Philippi from
succumbing to the
“same cracks and
weaknesses”5
of
legalism that Paul
saw at the church of
Galatia,6
he
implored them to
stand
fast
and
rejoice in the Lord.
Being a former
Pharisee Paul knew all too well of the dangers of legalism7 and
the devastating effects it was having on some of the Galatians.
Legalism is “a self-salvation project that only leads to pride or
despair. We must resist the Gospel of human achievement.”8
“Being acquitted before God’s tribunal on the final day” 9 has
1
H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Philippians, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk &
Wagnalls Company, 1909), 111.
5
2
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
213.
6
3
7
No Confidence in the Flesh
Philippians 3:1-6
Online Sermon:
http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
214.
4
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
215.
Frank Thielman, Philippians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1995), 167.
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 133.
Osvaldo Padilla, “Philippians,” in The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary, ed. J.
Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2020), 1180.
8
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 133.
9
Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to
Philemon., vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 359.
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nothing to do with one’s superior knowledge of His word, nor
is it about doing religious activities to earn acceptance.
Being accepted and forgiven by God is not based on
works,10 for all have sinned and fallen short of the
glory of God and no one is righteous not even one
(Romans 3:10-18,23). Acceptance and adoption
into God’s family is only attainable through faith in
the atoning sacrifice of His Son Jesus!
In the first verse of chapter three Paul echoes his prior appeal
to the Philippians to “stand firm in one spirit, with one mind,
striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel” (1:27). 11 Paul
implored the Philippians to “Hold firmly onto the word of life”
(2:16) so that they might be “protected from legalism and false
Gospels” that they would inevitably be tempted to put their
trust. Let “the joy of the Lord arm us against the assaults of our
spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those
pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks!”12
10
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 132–133.
Reflection. Our standing before a holy is adoption into His very
family but only by the blood of the Lamb. While we are to be
holy as God is holy this does not mean that human effort can
save a person. The believer can confidently approach God’s
throne because it is one of mercy and grace. He who did not
get what He deserved, God’s wrath and punishment for our
sins, through saved us from the punishment we deserved but
could never atone for or bear!
Watching out for the Dogs
Holding firmly onto the word of life will help safeguard
the Philippians against the false teachings of those whom Paul
called dogs, evildoers, and mutilators of the flesh” (32)! Paul
was referring a group of “Pharisee-influenced believers
(15:5)”13 who insisted that “Christ’s kingdom could be entered
only through the gate of Judaism”14 by becoming circumcised
and following the Law of Moses.15 With a “satirical twist, Paul
gave these “Judaizers” a bitter taste of their own poisonous
prejudice” using three descriptive adjectives.16 First, he called
14
Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 3 (New York: Charles
Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 443.
15
11
Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 83.
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 134.
12
16
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 122.
13
Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 85.
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G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
217.
them “dogs.” While today a dog connotates thoughts of loyal,
friendly, cherished companionship; in Paul’s time dogs were
not pets but were “nasty, unclean, and dangerous;”17 “coyotelike scavengers who
fed
on
roadkill,
carrion,
filth,
18
garbage,”
“human
corpses and even their
own vomit!”19 In the
Old Testament dogs
were
viewed
as
unclean animals and in the New Testaments dog was a term
often given to the Gentiles20 who were outside of the covenant
(Mark 7:27-29). Using their own slogans21 against them Paul
called the Judaizers “dogs” and the second adjective
“evildoers” because by emphasizing conformity to the “purity
laws and ceremonies of the Jewish Law”22 they were preaching
a Gospel of self-reliance rather than faith in a risen Savior.23
The third adjective (phrase) Paul used to describe the Judaizers
was “mutilators of the flesh” due to their insistence that
without circumcision as described by Moses the believer would
not be part of the covenant and therefore would not be saved
(Acts 15:1).24 To this Paul argued that circumcision of the heart
by the Holy Spirit is what defined the covenant people of the
Lord (Romans 2:29; Colossians 2:11–12).25 “Since circumcision
was not necessary for salvation, those who promoted it were
only mutilating their flesh, something that Leviticus 21:5 forbids
as a pagan ritual!”26 What people needed to be saved was not
“mutilation but regeneration.”27 Even though there is no
evidence these Judaizers where already at the church of
17
22
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 134.
H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Philippians, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk &
Wagnalls Company, 1909), 111.
23
18
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 123.
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
219.
19
24
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
218.
20
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 134.
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 124.
25
Alan Carr, “The Possessions of a Covenant People (Phil. 3:1–3),” in The Sermon Notebook:
New Testament (Lenoir, NC: Alan Carr, 2015), 3006.
26
Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to
Philemon., vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 360.
21
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 124.
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27
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 134.
Philippi, Paul warned them to stay clear of their false teachings
whenever they sought to make them a proselyte!28
Reflection. While circumcision and following the strict dietary
laws of Moses are often far from a believer’s mind, are we not
tempted to try and earn the approval of God through our good
deeds? How easily we forget that it is by grace we are saved
through faith and not works lest anyone should boast. It is not
our deeds that make us holy before God but our belief in the
atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus! Furthermore, our deeds only
bear fruit when in the vine, so the goal of pleasing God is not
attained by one’s effort but one’s surrender … Lord take my life
and let it be!
Mark 1: Serving God by His Spirit
To the dogs, evildoers, and mutilators of the flesh Paul
boldly defined what circumcision meant considering the New
Covenant. Circumcision in the Old Testament was a “physical
sign of belonging to the covenant people of God.”29 Since many
of the Israelites tended to “stray after other gods” 30 because of
their false belief that circumcision was a mark guaranteeing their
salvation; many prophets of the Old Testament were sent by God
to implore them to become “spiritually circumcised”31 as well
(Jeremiah
9:25).
The “physical rite
should be symbolic
of
a
deeper
commitment. They
called
this
commitment
“circumcision of the
heart.”32
True
members of the Old
Testament covenant were based on faith (Genesis 15:6, 18).
Those who believe in the atoning sacrifice of Christ are born
again and are a new creation under a New Covenant (2
Corinthians 5:17).33 The sign of true circumcision is not found
in the flesh but in the Spirit of God that dwells inside the believer
(Romans 8:9).34 Paul was not stating that the Jewish people
28
H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Philippians, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk &
Wagnalls Company, 1909), 111.
32
29
33
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
220.
30
Frank Thielman, Philippians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), 167–168.
31
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 124.
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Frank Thielman, Philippians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), 168.
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 125.
34
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 135.
were being excluded from the covenant35 but merely that
membership, both Jews and Gentiles, was defined by the
circumcision of the Spirit. Paul gave three characteristics of true
circumcision. First, those who are true members can be known
by their service to God by His Spirit. To offer God a broken and
contribute heart like King David (Psalms 51:17),36 and worship
the Lord in spirit and truth (John 4:24) requires the empowering
of the Holy Spirit who is our comforter, teacher, and the one who
“helps us with our weakness, granting us acceptable wordship,
and prayer (Romans 8:26-27)37 to a holy God!
Since no one is righteous and all continue to sin,
circumcision of the heart can only be done by
Christ who grants His own “inward purification
and consecration” through the power of the
Spirit who transforms, seals, and enables one to
live a life worthy of the Gospel message.
For Paul, the seal of the Spirit is “irrefutable proof” one has
passed from death to life and are forever sealed as a covenant
member of God’s family!
35
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
220–221.
Reflection. Are you born again by the water and the Spirit?
Your philanthropic deeds will not get you into heaven no matter
how impressive they are! Neither does your cherry disposition,
popularity, prestige, or earthly possesions. Only by faith in the
atoning sacrifice of Christ does one pass from death to life and
become a child of God. So, I ask you again are you born again?
Mark 2: Boasting in Christ
The second mark of true circumcision is “boasting in
Christ Jesus” (3:3b). Paul used the verb “boasting” to contrast
two “extreme religious attitudes: proud self-confidence and
humble submission to God’s grace.”38 Circumcision is not found
in “conformity to the external demands of the Mosaic Law,”39 in
one’s genealogy, or “any other human social privilege.”40 Those
whose hearts have been circumcised by the Spirit do not do
things out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (2:3) but for the
glory of the Lord who purchased them at the price of His very
life (1 Corinthians 6:20). It is not our earthly status,
38
Ralph P. Martin, Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 148.
39
36
Ralph P. Martin, Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 147.
Homer A. Kent Jr., “Philippians,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through
Philemon, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,
1981), 139.
37
40
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 125.
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Frank Thielman, Philippians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), 169.
achievements, or spiritual gifting41 but Christ who is the center
of our boasting. God who “exalted Christ to the highest place
and gave Him the name that is above every name” alone is
worthy to be acknowledged and worshipped to the glory of God
(2:5-11). “Boasting is not
in ourselves, which is the
essence of sin!”42 Echoing
the words of the prophet
Jeremiah (9:24) 43 Paul told
the church of Galatia, “But
as for me, I will never
boast about anything
except the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through
the cross, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).44 “The Christian
life is a Christ-exalting life.”45 Our union with Christ is the great
source of rejoicing for in Him because our sins have been
atoned, we have passed from death to life, and are forever
sealed by the Spirit as one of His Father’s very own children.
When a believer stands before a holy God their sins condemn
them but thankfully Christ fulfilled the Law’s requirement and
as such there is no condemnation for those who have faith in
Him for His blood covers all our sins (Romans 8:1-4)! “Christ is
the center of all Heaven and the Obsession of every son or
daughter who worships Him by the Spirit of God.46 The truly
circumcised boast in Christ Jesus for our glory is found in Him
alone!47
41
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 136.
45
42
Ralph P. Martin, Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 148.
46
43
47
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
222.
44
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 136.
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Reflection. It is so easy to feel pride in one’s accomplishments.
Sometimes we take pride in our vast money, nice homes, good
looks, health, spouse, children, and even our spiritual giftings!
And yet upon our last heartbeat what of all our boastings will
be left to enjoy? Will not meeting Jesus make all our sufferings
nothing and our joy so overwhelming that it will be like rivers
of living waters pouring fourth from our souls? And once in
heaven will we ever stop boasting in the Lord for the grace and
mercy He has granted us?
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 136.
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 125.
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 136.
Mark 3: No Confidence in the Flesh
The third mark of true circumcision is having no
confidence in the flesh. In the next few verses Paul boldly stated
to the Judaizers for them to look at his outstanding credentials,
four of them inherited
and
three
personal
accomplishments48 that
far surpassed those of his
generation. First, Paul
was not “grafted into the
covenant race”49 with a
“lower social status”50
but was circumcised as
the Mosaic Law demanded (Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 121:3) on
the eighth day of his life!51 “He was a pure-blooded Israelite.”52
Second, being a descended of the Benjamin, who was the only
son of Rachel and Jacob born in the Promised Land (Genesis
35:16-18) and was a member of the only tribe who “remained
faithful to Judah and the house of David after the death of
Solomon (1 Kings 12:21),”53 Paul’s genealogy was undoubtably
impeccable! Third, Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews for unlike
the Diaspora Jews who only knew Greek,54 Paul also knew the
“native language of first-century Judaism,” 55 Aramaic, and
Hebrews as well. Fourth, Paul belonged to a Jewish sect, the
Pharisees, who “were the most impressive and respected of
groups in Israel.”56 Fifth, as for passion for the Law Paul was
no ordinary Pharisee for by his own testimony he was advancing
in Judaism beyond many of his own age (Galatians 1:13-14).57
Paul’s zeal for the traditions of his Jewish ancestors was
unmatched for he likely saw himself as a “latter-day Phinehas in
his zeal for the Law (Numbers 25:6-8),”58 the ringleader in the
persecution of the early church “from the death of Stephen till
his own conversion (Acts 8:1-9:9).59 And lastly, as “for his
righteousness based on the law” Paul boldly stated he was
48
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 130.
54
49
Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 3 (New York: Charles
Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 445.
55
50
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove,
IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Php 3:5.
56
51
Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to
Philemon., vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 360.
57
52
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 130.
58
53
59
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 130.
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R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 130.
Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to
Philemon., vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 360.
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 131.
Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 88.
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 131.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933),
Php 3:6.
faultless (3:6). Paul was not stating he was sinless but that when
it came to following the Torah’s 613 commands whenever he
broke one of them, he immediately partook in the Law’s
“procedures to receive forgiveness and purification.”60
If anyone had the right to boast in the flesh it
was Apostle Paul and yet he told his former
colleagues and friends that all of his
accomplishments meant nothing for without
faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ he would
not on judgment day stand before a holy God
and be accepted into His kingdom!
Conclusion
When the Lord returns are you confident that you will be
accepted and spend eternity with Him in heaven? “Are you
trusting in your rituals, your ethnicity, your rank, your tradition,
your rule keeping, your zeal, or your obedience to the law?”61
Is your confidence in your morality or philanthropic deeds? The
truth is that we have no justification before a holy God. All have
sinned and fallen short of His glory and as such we deserve the
wages of sin which is death! Salvation simply cannot be earned
60
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 131.
61
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed.
David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered
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and none of us can withstand God’s righteous wrath. Though
we are image-bearers this does not mean we are automatically
accepted into heaven. Just because we sing worship songs,
memorize, and live the Bible message does mean we are
entitled to heaven
either, any more
than the Pharisees!
When we bow low,
and we all will, God
will only separate us
as His sheep if our
hearts have the seal
of His Spirit living inside of us. Thankfully the Lord as our
advocate will speak on judgement day on our behalf. With a
voice of thunder, grace, and mercy He will boldly declare His
own to be righteous not on the bases of personal merit but on
our faith in His atoning sacrifice. All of heaven, especially us,
will rejoice as the Good Shepherd declares to His Father, this
one is Your child for I purchased him/her at the price of My very
own blood. To this the Father will agree with His one and only
Son for not only is there no condemnation for those who
believe in Christ Jesus, there is also eternal acceptance into His
family forever! So, I finish with this one final question to
ponder: where are you placing your confidence?
Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016),
139.