Philippians chapter 3

vs 1

So Paul has said this to them again, and this time it seems more a reminder than a command. As if they already seem to rejoice in the Lord, but during this difficult period where he's in jail, he's reminding them to do that all the same.

vs 2

I remember preaching around this verse once I think, or for some reason I read something that pointed out Paul calling Judaisers 'dogs' is a turn around, when it's usually the Jews calling gentiles dogs. Anyhow, watch out for them.

vs 3

Putting no confidence in the flesh does sound very Christian, doesn't it? To Paul, the Holy Spirit plays the same part as the circumcision of old. What really gets me is that the OT flat out says that God said to his people, really early on in the piece, to circumcise their hearts! Not their penises! Well, it was probably to do both, but you get my point.

vs 4-6

Paul, of course, being a good little Jew, has as much confidence as any in the flesh. What you should notice is that in this "flesh" Paul also considers the Law, zeal, and legalistic righteousness.

All of these things are considered by Paul things that could be boasted about, if it wasn't for the Holy Spirit not requiring such silliness. These Judaizers are following rules that Paul has been there and done to death.

vs 7

Paul's moved on from that stuff, so he sees it as less than valuable. In fact, he sees it as a hindrance. It was a waste. If the goal was relationship with God, then it was a failure.

vs 8

now he moves on - not just the trappings of his previous Jewish life, but everything in comparison with knowing God is worthless. Rubbish. Excrement. And in fact, in his current position, he has lost pretty much everything, even his freedom, and yet to gain Christ, that's worth it.

vs 9

This righteousness that is by faith is very attractive to Paul, and it's completely biblical in the OT. It is the faith of Abraham, a pre-covenantal faith. Paul realises that the Sinai covenant with Israel was a temporary thing, but that the promises to Abraham are far more wide-ranging, and that it is a promisary covenant. Ok, that's a bit of OT studies coming in there, but it is so obvious when reading it.

vs 10-11

If these were the things that we desired, I wonder if we wouldn't wonder so much at Paul's life and some of our other Christian heroes, but instead see it as normative.