circumcised
the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
Philippians 3:5-6
Philippians 2 [25.] But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need; since he longed for you all, and was very troubled, because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor, because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
Philippians 3 [1.] Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh; though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
Philippians 3 [7.] However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ. Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death; if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
Meaning:
Paul wrote to the Philippians while in chains. Here he warns them against teachers who put “confidence in the flesh,” insisting that Gentile believers must be circumcised. If anyone could boast in such things, Paul could, and these verses list his credentials.
- “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin”
Paul was circumcised on the eighth day as the Law required, like Jesus (Luke 2:21), not as an adult convert. He belonged to Israel by birth, from Benjamin, the tribe of Israel’s first king, “Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin” (Acts 13:21), whose name Paul carried. He wrote to the Romans, “I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1). A “Hebrew of Hebrews” probably means a Hebrew-speaking son of Hebrew parents.
- “Concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly”
Paul told King Agrippa, “after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee” (Acts 26:5). His zeal went so far that he “persecuted them even to foreign cities” (Acts 26:11).
- “Concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless”
In outward observance no one could fault him. Yet outward righteousness can become like that of the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable, who prayed, “I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get” (Luke 18:12). In the next verse Paul says, “I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7). He does not despise Israel; he no longer trusts in these advantages for his standing with God.
The Significance of Philippians 3:5-6
- Trust Christ, not credentials
Heritage, religious training and moral effort are not a ground of confidence before God.
- Zeal can be misdirected
Paul’s greatest zeal once led him to persecute God’s people. Sincere devotion must be measured by the truth of Christ.
Cross-References:
Philippians 3:7: "I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ." What Paul did with his credentials.
Acts 23:6: "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees." Paul before the council.
Acts 26:5: "After the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee." Paul before Agrippa.
Conclusion: Paul could match anyone in Jewish birth, training and zeal, and he had been blameless in keeping the law outwardly. Yet he counted all of it loss compared with knowing Christ. His example teaches believers to rest their confidence in Christ alone.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible