Philippians 3:4b-6
What is written? (ESV)
If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
What does it say?
If anyone can be confident about their accomplishments it’s me (Paul). I was circumcised according to the law (of Moses) and from the tribe of Benjamin – a Hebrew if there ever was one! I studied law and was a Pharisee, as to righteousness under the law I was blameless, and as to zeal I persecuted the church.
What is its immediate context?
Paul’s letter to the Christians at the church in Philippi, established during his second missionary journey. A big problem in the first-century church were those that were teaching that one had to be physically circumcised (e.g. become a Jew) in order to become a Christian. He refers to these folks “evildoers” (vs 2), warning agains them and encouraging the brethren there to “press on” as he is doing (vs 12).
How Philippians 3:4b-6 is applied across Bible answers
Does Bible interpretation require special training?
Paul denounces any "confidence in the flesh" and calls out his own "advanced degree" in interpretation of what would have been the Torah, or our Old Testament.
He counts everything of his own physical accomplishments "as loss" and "as rubbish" (vs 8).
