Phili 3:4-11 | 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).
3:9 ^x Paul here summarizes the contrast between his understanding of salvation and that of his opponents (3:2 ^y).

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

• 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 ^aa; 3:21-26 ^ab; 4:5-8 ^ac; Gal 2:16 ^ad; Eph 2:8-9 ^ae).
3:10 ^af to know Christ: In knowing him, a person knows and is accepted by God (cp. 3:7-8 ^ag; John 1:12-13 ^ah; 17:3 ^ai).

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

• 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 ^am; 2 Cor 4:10-12 ^an; Col 1:24 ^ao; 1 Pet 4:13-16 ^ap).
3:11 ^aq To experience the resurrection from the dead is to be saved from judgment and receive eternal life (see Rev 20:4-6 ^ar). Paul was aware of God’s holiness and the severity of the final judgment (Rev 20:11-15 ^as); he knew he must persevere in his pursuit of Christ and salvation (cp. Gal 5:5 ^at).