4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ~ Philippians 3:4-7
As mentioned in our last blog, the Apostle accentuates "the flesh" in this chapter because it is the cause of the third potential joy stealer which is our pedigree and our possessions. In v.4 he sets up his line of thinking by writing, "though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more."
In v.5-6 Paul explains himself by listing seven things that gave him pedigree before he became a believer in Christ. His pedigree brought him great gain, a great sense of assurance and importance. It gave him a great deal of meaning and significance. As a result, these things gave Paul belonging, because he got acceptance from excelling.
The second thing that gave Paul pedigree, he was “of the people of Israel.” Paul was a Jew by birth, not by conversion. To the Israelites belonged the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the temple service and the promises. God had given to Israel all the pedigree.
The third thing that gave Paul pedigree, he was “of the tribe of Benjamin,” which was a tribe of prominence, not least because it was one of only two tribes, along with Judah, to which one’s heritage could still be traced.
The fourth thing that gave Paul pedigree, he was “a Hebrew of Hebrews.” This meant that he was an elite member of the nation of Israel. The Jews in Paul's day had become victims of the Greek culture, so they lost their language, traditions and culture. But not Paul. He had Hebrew parents. He was a Hebrew child. He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, and he maintained the traditions. This set him apart from those who had allowed the faith to become watered down in their lives.
The fifth thing that gave Paul pedigree, he was a Pharisee. He viewed God's Word from the Pharisaic perspective. He was quite narrow-minded, allowing no room for grace. Being a Pharisee was the highest level of religious achievement in Judaism. And, as a result, he accentuates the sixth thing, he persecuted the church.
Paul was so zealous for the things of God, he killed Christians. This type of zeal says I love God so much I hate whatever offends Him. And, Paul thought Jesus and His followers were an offense to God.
The seventh thing that gave Paul pedigree, he was “faultless” according to the “righteousness based on the law.” He lived as an observant Jew. He followed the Sabbath, food laws, and feasts. He kept short accounts with God, participating in the sacrificial system and the Day of Atonement. No one could fault him in these respects.
In v.7 the word "gains" is used. The Greek word kerdos is used here which means profit. The Apostle Paul accentuates his religious activity, falsely thinking that his performance garnered and maintained favor with God.
In v.7, Paul concluded, "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." When he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul's orientation to life changed. After the Lord Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, he moved beyond the few things mentioned in v.5–6 and considered everything but Christ as garbage.
Finally, when we begin with anything other than the Lord Jesus, we make Christianity legalistic. It may be a good thing, like discipleship or sanctification. But, when we begin with Him, everything else flows from that. He must be our first love everyday, or else, we go the way of the Ephesians to whom the Lord Jesus said, "2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first." (Revelation 2:2-4)
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