Phili 3:4-7 | TNotes | STEP | 3:4 in my own effort (literally in the flesh ): Paul uses flesh here for self-reliance and human effort in contrast to reliance on Christ and empowerment by the Spirit.

3:4 ^a in my own effort (literally in the flesh): Paul uses flesh here for self-reliance and human effort in contrast to reliance on Christ and empowerment by the Spirit.
Summary for Phil 3:5-6: 3:5-6 ^b If anyone could rely on Jewish credentials, Paul could: He practiced the strictest obedience to the Jewish law and was extremely zealous for the Jewish religion. 3:5 ^c circumcised when I was eight days old: See Gen 17:12 ^d; Lev 12:3 ^e; Luke 1:59 ^f; 2:21 ^g.

• Paul was a member of the Pharisees, the Jewish sect known for its strict observance of the law (see Acts 23:6 ^h; 26:5 ⁱ).
3:6 ^j I harshly persecuted the church (see Acts 8:1-3 ^k; 9:1-2 ^l, 21 ^m; Gal 1:13 ⁿ): His actions demonstrated his zeal for Judaism, to which the Good News of Jesus was seen as a threat.

• Paul’s righteousness, as judged by human standards, was another indication of his zeal for the law (see also Gal 1:14 ^o; for Paul’s later Christian view, cp. Rom 3:23 ^p; 7:14-25 ^q).
Summary for Phil 3:7-8: 3:7-8 ^r As a Christian, Paul now regarded these things (3:5-6 ^s) as worthless because of what Christ has done: A believer’s relationship with God is defined by knowing Christ (cp. 3:10 ^t; John 17:3 ^u) and nothing else. The only important thing is to gain Christ, thus receiving the gift of eternal salvation (cp. John 3:16 ^v; 1 Jn 5:11-13 ^w). By comparison, all other things are meaningless garbage (or excrement).