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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
But whom does he style "dogs"? There were at this place some of those, whom he hints at in all his Epistles, base and contemptible Jews, greedy of vile lucre and fond of power, who, desiring to draw aside many of the faithful, preached both Christianity and Judaism at the same time, corrupting the Gospel. As then they were not easily discernible, therefore he says, "beware of the dogs": the Jews are no longer children; once the Gentiles were called dogs, but now the Jews. Wherefore? …
Theophylact of Ohrid
There were certain Jews who, distorting Christianity, preached the Gospel while mixing Jewish views into it. Since they could not easily be recognized, the apostle says: look out, beware, pay attention so that there are none of them among you. Previously it was the Gentiles who were called dogs, but now such Jews are, because they are shameless, insolent toward the light of truth, and slandered everyone. …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
The need for this admonition is that certain seducers are busy; therefore, he must be busier in writing to them; hence he says, look out for the dogs, look out for the evil-workers. He mentions three things about them: first, the unreasoning cruelty of their hearts; hence he says dogs: "It is the nature of a dog to bark from anger, not from reason but from habit" (Gloss). These people do the same: "The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. …
Hippolytus of Rome
Finally, hear Paul as he speaks boldly, and mark how clearly he discovers these: "Beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit. See that ye walk circumspectly, because the days are evil." In fine then, what man shall have any excuse who hears these things in the Church from prophets and apostles, and from the Lord Himself, and yet will give no heed to the care of his soul, and to the time of the consummation, and to that approaching hour when we shall have to stand …
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