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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Php_3:2-6
2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.
Php_3:2 "Beware of the dogs" This is a present active imperative of "look out for" (blepô), repeated three times for emphasis. The rabbis called the Gentiles "dogs." Paul changed the phrase to refer to the false teachers. The term "dogs" in the OT referred to (1) male prostitutes (cf. Deu_23:18) or (2) evil people (cf. Psa_22:16; Psa_22:20). Culturally the idiom refers to vicious street mongrels. These false teachers were like ravenous dogs and vicious unbelievers (cf. Mat_7:6; Gal_5:15; Rev_22:15).
NASB "false-circumcision"
NKJV "the mutilation"
NRSV "those who mutilate the flesh"
TEV "who insist on cutting the body"
NJB "self-mutilation"
This is a reference to the Judaizers' insistence on circumcision (cf. Act_15:1; Act_15:5; Gal_5:2-3; Gal_5:12). They basically taught that one had to be Jewish before he could be Christian. Becoming a proselyte Jew involved being circumcised, baptizing yourself, and offering a sacrifice in the temple. Circumcision became a metaphor for taking on "the yoke" of the Mosaic Law.
Php_3:3
NASB, NKJV,
NRSV "the true circumcision"
TEV "the true circumcision"
NJB "the true people of the circumcision"
This spiritual/faith circumcision is described in Rom_2:28-29 and Gal_3:29. The church in some ways is spiritual Israel (cf. Gal_6:16). In the OT, circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. Gen_17:11; Gen_17:14; Gen_17:23-25). It involved a proper attitude, not just a physical ritual (cf. Lev_26:41; Deu_10:16; and Jer_4:4). True spiritual circumcision is described by three present active participles:
1. the ones worshiping in or by the Spirit of God
2. the ones glorying in Christ
3. the ones not putting confidence in the flesh
NASB "glory in Christ Jesus"
NKJV "rejoice in Christ Jesus"
NRSV "and boast in Christ Jesus"
TEV "rejoice in our life in union with Christ Jesus"
NJB "and make Christ Jesus our boast"
Paul often uses this word (cf. Rom_2:23; Rom_3:27; Rom_4:2; Rom_5:2-3; Rom_5:11; Rom_11:18; Rom_15:17; 1Co_1:31; 1Co_3:21; 1Co_4:7; 1Co_5:6; 1Co_7:14; 1 Cor. 8:24; 1Co_9:2; 1Co_9:4; 1Co_9:11; 1Co_9:15-16; 1Co_10:8; 1Co_10:13; 1Co_10:15-16; 1Co_11:10; 1Co_11:12; 2Co_1:14; 2Co_5:12; 2Co_7:4; 2Co_10:17; 2Co_11:17-18; 2Co_11:30; 2Co_12:1; 2Co_12:5-6; 2Co_12:9; 2Co_12:11; Gal_6:4; Gal_6:13-14; Eph_2:9; Php_1:26; Php_2:16; Php_3:3; 2Th_1:4). It is translated according to the context as "rejoice," "boast," "confident pride," or "exalt."
NASB "put no confidence in the flesh"
NKJV, NRSV "have no confidence in the flesh"
TEV "we do not put any trust in external ceremonies"
NJB "not relying on physical qualifications"
This term implies a confident boasting in something or someone. This phrase is in contrast to the previous phrase. Paul's relationship with Christ and his understanding of the gospel gave him confidence.
This may refer to the Jewish pride of lineage from Abraham (cf. Php_3:4-5; Mat_3:9; Joh_8:33; Joh_8:37; Joh_8:39). It surely refers to Jewish rituals like circumcision (cf. Acts 15 and Galatians).
Php_3:4 "if" This is a first class conditional sentence which was assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes.
▣ "I far more" Paul reluctantly compares his Jewish credentials with those of the Judaizers. They had no racial or religious superiority over him (cf. Php_3:5-6; 2Co_11:22). Paul defended himself because by attacking him, they were attempting to discredit the gospel.
Php_3:5 "circumcised the eighth day" The Jews circumcised on the 8th day after birth (cf. Gen_17:9-14; Lev_12:3). Flavius Josephus tells us that the Arabs circumcised at the age of 13, following Gen_17:23-27.
▣ "of the nation of Israel" For a list of the privileges of the Jewish people, see Rom_9:4-5; Rom_11:1.
▣ "tribe of Benjamin" This was the tribe of Israel's first king, Saul. It was also part of the southern kingdom, Judah, after the tribes divided in 922 b.c.
▣ "a Hebrew of Hebrews" This idiom refers to either (1) pure racial stock or (2) his speaking the Hebrew (Aramaic) language.
Php_3:6 "as to the Law, a Pharisee" This was the conservative popular sect within Judaism which developed during the Maccabean period (cf. Joh_3:1). They desired to keep the Mosaic Law in every detail (cf. Act_26:4-5). They had detailed regulations for every area of life which had developed over time in the discussion between the two schools of rabbis (Shammai and Hillel). Their oral traditions were later codified into the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds. Nicodemas and Joseph of Arimathea were positive examples of their sincerity and dedication.
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▣ "as to zeal" Enthusiasm is not automatically from God (cf. Rom_10:2).
▣ "a persecutor of the church" Saul apparently imprisoned and possibly even killed believers (cf. Act_8:3; Act_9:1; Act_9:13; Act_9:21; 1Co_15:9; Gal_1:13-14; Gal_1:23; 1Ti_1:13). This is an obvious reference to the Church universal (cf. Mat_16:18; Eph_1:22; Eph_3:10; Eph_3:21; Eph_5:23-32). See Special Topic: Church (Ekklesia) at Col_1:18.
▣ "concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" Paul was speaking of his pre-Christian understanding of the Mosaic Law (cf. Mar_10:20) and its interpretation (Talmud). If these false teachers wanted to rejoice in their Jewishness, Paul could also (cf. 2Co_11:16-23). See Special Topic at Eph_4:24.
The term "blameless" was originally used in the OT of sacrificial animals (cf. Php_2:15). It does not mean "sinless" (cf. Gen_6:9; Gen_6:17; Job_1:1), but one who had fulfilled that which he understood of God's will. See Special Topic: Blameless at Col_1:22.