Phili 3:2-11 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Phil 3:2-11: 3:2-11 Paul warns the believers against being influenced by Jewish Christians who argued that circumcision is necessary for salvation. He then talks about his own conversion from Judaism to Christ. 3:2 those dogs, ... those mutilators: Here Paul reverses the traditional Jewish practice of referring to Gentiles as dogs (cp. Mark 7:27-28 ). Paul’s strongest insults are directed against Jews who preached that Gentiles must be circumcised in order to be saved (cp. 2 Cor 11:13-15 ; Gal 1:6-9 ; 5:1-6 , 12 ).

Summary for Phil 3:2-11: 3:2-11 ^a Paul warns the believers against being influenced by Jewish Christians who argued that circumcision is necessary for salvation. He then talks about his own conversion from Judaism to Christ. 3:2 ^b those dogs, ... those mutilators: Here Paul reverses the traditional Jewish practice of referring to Gentiles as dogs (cp. Mark 7:27-28 ^c). Paul’s strongest insults are directed against Jews who preached that Gentiles must be circumcised in order to be saved (cp. 2 Cor 11:13-15 ^d; Gal 1:6-9 ^e; 5:1-6 ^f, 12 ^g).
3:3 ^h Circumcision was understood as identifying the true people of God (see Gen 17:10-14 ⁱ), but those who put their trust in Christ are the ones who are truly circumcised in heart (see Rom 2:28-29 ^j; cp. Jer 4:4 ^k; Eph 2:11 ^l; Col 2:11-13 ^m).
3:4 ⁿ 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 ^o 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 ^p circumcised when I was eight days old: See Gen 17:12 ^q; Lev 12:3 ^r; Luke 1:59 ^s; 2:21 ^t.

• Paul was a member of the Pharisees, the Jewish sect known for its strict observance of the law (see Acts 23:6 ^u; 26:5 ^v).
3:6 ^w I harshly persecuted the church (see Acts 8:1-3 ^x; 9:1-2 ^y, 21 ^z; Gal 1:13 ^aa): 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 ^ab; for Paul’s later Christian view, cp. Rom 3:23 ^ac; 7:14-25 ^ad).
Summary for Phil 3:7-8: 3:7-8 ^ae As a Christian, Paul now regarded these things (3:5-6 ^af) as worthless because of what Christ has done: A believer’s relationship with God is defined by knowing Christ (cp. 3:10 ^ag; John 17:3 ^ah) and nothing else. The only important thing is to gain Christ, thus receiving the gift of eternal salvation (cp. John 3:16 ^ai; 1 Jn 5:11-13 ^aj). By comparison, all other things are meaningless garbage (or excrement).
3:9 ^ak Paul here summarizes the contrast between his understanding of salvation and that of his opponents (3:2 ^al).

• Believers become one with Christ by trusting him for salvation and sharing his life (cp. John 15:1-5 ^am).

• We become righteous, not by observing the law of Moses, but through faith in Christ. This is God’s way of making us right with himself: Salvation cannot be earned, but only received as a free gift (see Rom 1:17 ^an; 3:21-26 ^ao; 4:5-8 ^ap; Gal 2:16 ^aq; Eph 2:8-9 ^ar).
3:10 ^as to know Christ: In knowing him, a person knows and is accepted by God (cp. 3:7-8 ^at; John 1:12-13 ^au; 17:3 ^av).

• Believers experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead, both now and in eternity (see Rom 6:4-14 ^aw; 8:10-11 ^ax; Col 3:1-4 ^ay).

• to suffer with him, sharing in his death: Joined to Christ, a believer has the privilege of experiencing his life and death (see Phil 1:29 ^az; 2 Cor 4:10-12 ^ba; Col 1:24 ^bb; 1 Pet 4:13-16 ^bc).
3:11 ^bd To experience the resurrection from the dead is to be saved from judgment and receive eternal life (see Rev 20:4-6 ^be). Paul was aware of God’s holiness and the severity of the final judgment (Rev 20:11-15 ^bf); he knew he must persevere in his pursuit of Christ and salvation (cp. Gal 5:5 ^bg).