Phili 3:4-6 | RWP | e4.org | Might have ( εχων ). Rather, "even though myself having." Confidence ( πεποιθησιν ). Late word, condemned by the Atticists, from πεποιθα (just used). See ; .

‏ Philippians 3:4-6

Might have ( εχων ). Rather, "even though myself having."

Confidence ( πεποιθησιν ). Late word, condemned by the Atticists, from πεποιθα (just used). See 2Co 1:15; 3:4.

Thinketh to have confidence ( δοκε πεποιθενα ). Second perfect active infinitive. Old idiom, "seems to himself to have confidence." Later idiom like Mt 3:9 "think not to say" and 1Co 11:16, "thinks that he has ground of confidence in himself."

I yet more ( εγω μαλλον ). "I have more ground for boasting than he" and Paul proceeds to prove it in the rest of verses 5, 6.

Circumcised the eighth day ( περιτομη οκταημερος ). "In circumcision (locative case) an eighth day man." Use of the ordinal with persons like τεταρταιος (Joh 11:39). Ishmaelites were circumcised in the thirteenth year, proselytes from Gentiles in mature age, Jews on the eighth day (Lu 2:21).

Of the stock of Israel ( εκ γενους Ισραηλ ). Of the original stock, not a proselyte.

Benjamin ( Βενιαμιν ). Son of the right hand (that is, left-handed), son of Rachel. The first King, Saul (Paul's own Hebrew name) was from this little tribe. The battle cry of Israel was "After thee, O Benjamin" (Jud 5:14).

A Hebrew of the Hebrews ( Εβραιος εξ Εβραιων ). Of Hebrew parents who retained the characteristic qualities in language and custom as distinct from the Hellenistic Jews (Ac 6:1). Paul was from Tarsus and knew Greek as well as Aramaic (Ac 21:40; 22:2) and Hebrew, but he had not become Hellenized.

A Pharisee ( Φαρισαιος ). In distinction from the Sadducees (Ga 1:14) and he continued a Pharisee in many essential matters like the doctrine of the resurrection (Ac 23:6). Cf. 2Co 11:22.

As touching zeal ( κατα ζηλος ). So the old MSS. treating ζηλος as neuter, not masculine. He was a zealot against Christianity, "persecuting the church" ( διωκων την εκκλησιαν ). He was the ringleader in the persecution from the death of Stephen till his own conversion (Ac 8:1-9:9).

Found blameless ( γενομενος αμεμπτος ). "Having become blameless" (Ga 1:14). He knew and practised all the rules of the rabbis. A marvellous record, scoring a hundred in Judaism.