Andrew’s Live Bible Study Notes – 7/25/17 Philippians 3:3‐13

Andrew’s Live Bible Study Notes – 7/25/17

Philippians 3:3‐13

 Philippians 3:3 – For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ
Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:3
Paul was speaking to Gentile Christians, and he called them the true circumcision. This is the same
point he made in his letter to the Romans when he said, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;
neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of
God” (Rom. 2:28‐29). Statements like these would have been very offensive to the Jewish legalists of
Paul’s day.
This is an attitude that those who are successful in the things of the Lord must have. We can’t have any confidence in ourselves. Our confidence has to be in the Lord. But the Lord is in us
(Rom. 8:9 and 2 Cor. 13:5), and therefore, we do have confidence in ourselves. But it’s in the born‐again part of us. This is a mystery to those who don’t have the revelation of Christ in them
(Col. 1:27).

* Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:3
Who were the “we” Paul spoke of?
 He was not just speaking of the Jews who had been physically circumcised; Paul was saying that Christians are the true circumcised people of God.
In Romans 2:28‐29, Paul revealed that true circumcision was a matter of the heart, not the flesh, and
that true Judaism was through new birth, not physical birth. In Colossians 2:11, Paul said that spiritual circumcision was done by God without the hands of man.
The physical nation of Israel still has a very important part to play in God’s plan. It figures prominently in end‐time prophecy. The physical nation of Israel has been displaced in importance by the spiritual seed of Abraham; that is, the church of Jesus Christ.

The condition of a person’s flesh is not the important thing. It doesn’t matter if that flesh is circumcised or holy; it is the condition of the spirit that matters to God. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).
In context, Paul was saying that those who put faith in their circumcision to save themselves are
putting confidence in the flesh and not in God. Today the act of circumcision is not the issue, but acts
of holiness are still deemed by many as essential for receiving salvation. That is just as wrong as those in Paul’s day who believed that being circumcised granted them salvation.

Philippians 3:4 – Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:4
Paul hadn’t taken this doctrinal position because he didn’t have any good works to trust in. He was
holier in the flesh than any of his critics. In the next few verses, he listed all his self‐righteousness. But he had learned that the only thing that makes us righteous in the sight of God is faith in what Christ has done for us.
The grace of God was Paul’s strength, but the fact that he lived a holy life gave him the moral high
ground in his arguments with the legalists. We should follow his example.

* Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:4
Paul was saying that if anyone could trust in his or her own goodness, he would be the one. He was
holier than all of them, yet as stated in Philippians 3:9, the righteousness that justifies people before a
holy God must be a righteousness that is equal to God’s. In order to receive this righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ, people must quit relying upon their own righteousness (which is of the Law, Phil. 3:9) and must trust in Christ alone for the righteousness that is of God by faith.

Philippians 3:5 – Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:5
Paul’s critics were preaching that faith in Christ alone was not enough. They said we also have to be
holy to be accepted with God. They boasted of their self‐righteousness and condemned others who
were not as holy. Paul is showing his critics that he lived a holier life than any of them. If they thought acts of holiness procured special favor from God, then Paul was holier than them all. Yet, he had found that all his holiness was not enough to grant him relationship with God. That only came through faith in what Christ has done.

Philippians 3:6 – Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the
law, blameless.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:6
Paul was blameless, not sinless. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). This means Paul was seeking to follow all the commands of the Law. He didn’t achieve that standard, but no one could blame him for not trying.

* Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:6
Paul’s list of human attainments is impressive. He was a circumcised, full‐blooded Jew of an
outstanding tribe of Israel. As a Pharisee, he once guarded the Law with zeal. As for legalistic
righteousness, he had been blameless. But in comparison to God’s own righteousness, he had failed.
The truth is that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). It doesn’t matter
how good we are, we still need a Savior. Who wants to be the best sinner who ever went to hell?

 Philippians 3:7 – But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:7
Christ and self are like opposite ends of a seesaw. If one is up, the other has to be down. We cannot
esteem ourselves and God at the same time.
Notice that Paul counted these things as loss. The word “loss” was translated from the Greek word
“ZEMIA,” and ZEMIA means “detriment” (Strong’s Concordance). Paul considered all his fleshly
attainments as detriments to his spiritual life. Very few people think this way, and therefore, very few
people get the same results that Paul got.

* Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:7
Before Paul met Christ, he was proud of his many attainments within the Jewish religion (Gal. 1:14). He was circumcised and had obeyed the Law of Moses. Concerning the outward observance of the Law, he was blameless (Phil. 3:6). His natural descent from Abraham gave him favor, so he thought. All that was necessary for his salvation, he had accomplished. He had done all the “dos” and avoided the “don’ts,” but then he saw how wrong he was.
Natural circumcision was nothing. True circumcision is of the heart. Natural descent means nothing,
only the new creation (Gal. 6:15). Legalistic righteousness is to no avail and is as filthy rags (Is. 64:6).
Paul gladly renounced his faith in himself and his own accomplishments so that he might receive Christ by faith along with all His accomplishments. The Living Bible renders this verse as “But all these things that I once thought very worthwhile—now I’ve thrown them all away so that I can put my trust and hope in Christ alone.”

 Philippians 3:8 – Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:8
Paul counted all his self‐righteousness as dung in comparison to knowing Christ. What a word picture!
All our self‐righteousness is manure compared to knowing Christ. People frame their “manure” and
hang it on their walls for all to see. Paul didn’t boast in any of his accomplishments. His only claim to
fame was faith in Christ.

* Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:8
The phrase “I count” was translated from the Greek word “HEGEOMAI,” and this Greek word means “to lead, i.e. command (with official authority); figuratively, to deem, i.e. consider” (Strong’s
Concordance). This means Paul didn’t come to a place of failure where through some sin or error on his part, he had become a “loser.” He was the most promising student of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Paul chose to value his own effort as dung.

Many people come to the Lord in the midst of failure or personal tragedy. It is easy to see their own
efforts as worthless in a situation like that. Those who are at the top of their game often fail to see
their need for the Lord. They think they are doing quite well and therefore trust in themselves. That’s
why relatively few “successful” people come to the Lord.
The present‐tense verb “I count” shows a habitual attitude and commitment to a long‐term way of
doing something. In other words, Paul continually counted as loss everything that would keep him
from knowing Jesus Christ intimately.

Paul is an example to us all. He was the holiest, the best, yet he was nothing. If that was true of Paul, it is certainly true of us. Like Paul, we need to “count” all of our personal achievements as refuse so that we might totally rely on Christ.
At one time, Paul had trusted the works of his own flesh as a means of acceptance with God. His faith
had been in circumcision, ancestry, religion, zeal, and legalistic righteousness (Phil. 3:5‐6). But here, he counted them all loss that he might gain Christ. In fact, Paul used the term “dung” to describe how
little he valued anything that would separate him from the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord.

Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament states, “Not only did he (Paul) forfeit all this
when he was saved, but his parents would have nothing to do with a son who had, in their estimation,
dishonored them by becoming one of those hated, despised Christians. They had reared him in the lap
of luxury, sent him to the Jewish school of theology in Jerusalem to sit at the feet of the great Gamaliel,
and given him an excellent training in Greek culture at the University of Tarsus, a Greek school of
learning. But they had now cast him off. He was still forfeiting all that he had held dear, but for what?
He tells us, ‘that I may win Christ’” (p. 91).
Only eternity will reveal just how much Paul gave up in the natural to follow Christ. One thing is
certain—he gained much more than he ever gave up. That’s true of us as well. The reproaches of Christ are infinitely greater in wealth than all the riches of the world or the acclaim of man
The English word “dung” was translated from the Greek word “SKUBALON,” and this Greek word
means “what is thrown to the dogs, i.e. refuse” (Strong’s Concordance).

This word “win” was translated from the Greek word “KERDAINO,” and this Greek word means “to
gain” (Strong’s Concordance). It was translated “gain” nine times (Matt. 16:26 [once]; Mark 8:36
[once]; Luke 9:25 [once]; 1 Cor. 9:19‐22 [five times]; and James 4:13 [once]) and “gained” five times
(Matt. 18:15, 25:17, 20, 22; and Acts 27:21). This is the only time in the New Testament that this word was translated “win.”

Philippians 3:9 – And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:9
This verse very clearly states that there are two types of righteousness. Our self‐righteousness is
dependent on how much our actions conform to the Law. That type of righteousness is necessary in
our relationships with people but totally useless when it comes to relating to God. Then there is a faithrighteousness that comes as a gift to those who trust what Christ has done for them. That faithrighteousness is infinitely more in quality and quantity than our self‐ righteousness and is the only righteousness acceptable to God.

Notice that this faith‐righteousness comes through the faith of Christ, not just faith in Christ. Yes, we
put faith in Christ, but this is specifying a righteousness that was produced by the faith of Jesus. As we place our faith in Christ, then the righteousness that He obtained through His faith and holiness is given unto us as a gift (Rom. 5:17).

* Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:9
There are two types of righteousness: ours and God’s. Our righteousness is compliance with the
requirements of the Law. God’s righteousness only comes as a gift and is received by faith. God’s
righteousness is perfect. Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Is. 64:6).
One of the key words of this passage is “DIKAIOSUNE,” translated “righteousness.” It is hard for one English word to portray all that this means.
 A paraphrase of Paul’s thinking may be “a right relationship or right standing before a holy God.” Paul sought to establish his own righteousness—that is, a righteousness based on his own actions–in order to be pleasing unto God. He found that it was no more acceptable before God than the refuse thrown upon the garbage heap.

Right standing before a holy God is not to be achieved in the keeping of the Law but in humble trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Those who are trusting in their own righteousness cannot have the benefit of Christ’s righteousness. The righteousness that gives mankind relationship with God is the righteousness of God, and it comes freely through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:22).

**  Notice that Paul said he wanted the righteousness that comes through the faith of Christ, not faith in Christ. It is true that we obtained this righteousness by putting faith in what Christ had done for us.
When we place our faith in Christ, the righteousness that Jesus obtained by His faith becomes ours. We are possessors of Christ’s righteousness, which His faith produced.


Philippians 3:10 – That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:10
The Western idea of knowledge is only mental. But the Eastern mindset saw knowing as experiential.
Paul was saying he wanted to experience Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death.

Paul mentioned knowing Christ before he mentioned knowing the power of Christ’s resurrection.
Indeed, every aspect of the Christian life revolves around knowing Jesus in an intimate, experiential
way. That has to be the main thing. Yet Paul didn’t stop with just knowing Christ. He wanted to know
the power that flowed from His resurrection too. We don’t have to choose between the two. We
should have a personal relationship with the Lord that releases His supernatural power into our lives
and the lives of those we meet.

Paul went beyond just knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. Paul also wanted to know the fellowship of His sufferings. Paul didn’t want suffering, and neither should we. But it will come. Some suffering comes naturally, and then there is persecution that all godly people will suffer
(2 Tim. 3:12).

But everyone will suffer. That’s the way it is in a fallen world. When it happens, God provides a
supernatural comfort. It is this comfort, or fellowship with Jesus, that Paul was referring to. That
comfort is so sweet that it makes the suffering seem like nothing in comparison (Rom. 8:18).
I like the Amplified Bible’s translation of this verse. It says, “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope].”

Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:10
Paul had given up everything that he might “know” Christ (Phil. 3:8). The Greek word used here for
“know” is “GINOSKO,” and it was a Jewish idiom for the sexual union between a husband and wife
(Gen. 4:1). It was not Paul’s aim to know about Christ but to know Him and experience Him on the
most intimate, personal level.

This involved knowing Jesus’s resurrection power in the new birth (Rom. 6:4‐5). It also involved sharing His sufferings. This does not mean the sufferings He experienced for our redemption but rather the sufferings brought on by one’s allegiance to Christ. Furthermore, Paul’s desire was conformity to Christ’s death. While not denying that this may involve allegiance to Christ to the point of physical death, it appears that Paul meant the death to the flesh—life that is experienced through a vital faith union with Christ (Rom. 6:11 and 17‐18).

Paul said in Romans 12:2 that we are not to be conformed to this world but transformed through the
renewing of our minds. Then he stated what we are supposed to be conformed to; we are to be
conformed to the death of Christ. This is speaking of reckoning ourselves dead to sin and all its effects upon us in the same way that Christ is dead to sin and all its effects upon Him.


Philippians 3:11 – If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:11
In Acts 24:15, Paul clearly believed that everyone would be resurrected from the dead, some to life and some to damnation. And that general resurrection is not something we have to believe for. It will
happen to everyone. Paul used a Greek word for resurrection that is used nowhere else in the Bible. It
literally meant an out‐resurrection, or a rising from among the dead. This unique word is not speaking
of the general resurrection but of the specific resurrection of the saints.

* Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:11
Here, Paul was stating that he was looking forward to the resurrection that will bring him into
complete conformity to the likeness of Jesus Christ. Vincent’s Word Studies states that this expression “if by any means” was “not an expression of doubt” on Paul’s part, but rather a statement “of humility” (Volume 3). Paul was not speaking of the general resurrection of both the just and the unjust; rather, he was emphasizing the resurrection of the believer out from among the dead.
What did Paul mean?

Was he saying that he hadn’t received salvation yet?

Was he insecure in his place in Christ to where he couldn’t know until the resurrection day whether he would be accepted or not?

Certainly not! That’s the way some people view salvation, but that was not Paul’s perspective.
The word “attain” was translated from the Greek word “KATANTAO,” and this Greek word means
“arrive at” (Strong’s Concordance). Paul was saying that he had not yet arrived at the resurrection of
the just, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t begun going in that direction. Salvation is the present‐tense
possession of all born‐again believers, but there is a future‐tense fulfillment that will be consummated
at the resurrection of the just. As long as believers hold fast to their profession of faith (Heb. 10:23),
their place in the resurrection is secure.

The word “resurrection” here was translated from the Greek word “EXANASTASIS,” which is only used here in the New Testament. It is very similar to the Greek word “ANASTASIS,” and that word was translated “resurrection” thirty‐nine times in the N.T. However, this word has the preposition “EK” added to it, which gives it the meaning of “out of” or “from” among the dead.
Paul was not speaking of the general resurrection in which even the unbelievers will participate. He
was speaking of the “out resurrection” from the dead that only those who have saving faith in Christ
will experience.

 Philippians 3:12 – Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:12
I haven’t arrived, but praise God, I’ve left. This isn’t Paul expressing doubt about whether or not he
would make the resurrection of the righteous. But he is simply saying that this is so important that it is worthy of all his effort to ensure that he is among that number.

* Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:12
Our salvation is a continuing experience. We don’t just put our faith in Christ one time when we are
born again and then forget it. It has to be a continual trust and dependence on Jesus for our right
relationship with the Father. Until we are resurrected with our glorified bodies, we have to hold fast
the profession of our faith in Christ (Heb. 4:14 and 10:23). Paul was saying, “I haven’t arrived, but I’ve left.”

The word “perfect” was used in Scripture to describe spiritual maturity as well as “being without defect or blemish” (American Heritage Dictionary). However, in this case, Paul certainly was spiritually mature, so that is not the meaning here. He was saying that he wasn’t without defect yet. That wouldn’t happen until the resurrection.

Paul saying that his salvation wasn’t secure and that he wasn’t sure he would be among the saints?
Definitely not! It is true that saving faith isn’t just a one‐time experience but rather a continual trust
and reliance on Jesus for our right standing with God. There is a perseverance that is necessary in the
Christian life. Paul was committed to Christ, and he expressed confidence on a number of occasions
that he knew he would continue to walk in righteousness with God (Rom. 15:29).

Paul did not just want to attain to the resurrection of the just. Although he hadn’t experienced that
resurrection yet, it was purchased for him by our Lord Jesus, and Paul was in possession of that
salvation. There are varying degrees of resurrection, however, even for the just. Paul was pursuing the highest resurrection, and that was not “in the bag.”

Hebrews 11:35 says, “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection.” This “better resurrection” apparently is referring to the varying rewards that will be
given to believers. Martyrs will certainly be rewarded in a special way, making theirs a “better
resurrection.” All saints will be in the resurrection of the just, but some will have greater rewards than
others.

In Philippians 3:13‐14, Paul spoke of pursuing the “prize of the high calling of God.” Paul wasn’t trying to just finish the race; he was planning on winning first place. He wanted this better resurrection; that is, he wanted to bring more honor and glory to God than anyone else. He had not attained that yet and he wouldn’t know until the resurrection morning if he had made it. But that’s the goal that the Lord had placed in his heart, and that was the one thing he pursued.

Philippians 3:13 – Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

* Living Commentary Note on Philippians 3:13
One of the secrets of Paul’s success was that he was single minded. He only did one thing. He wasn’t
renowned for anything but his relationship with the Lord and what it produced. Our desire for worldly achievements dilutes what we can do for the Lord.
We can’t reach forward until we get free from the past. Paul said he was forgetting the things that
were behind and then reaching toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

* Life for Today Note on Philippians 3:13
By just about anyone’s judgment, Paul was one of the most successful Christians who ever lived. Here, he gave us one of his secrets of spiritual success: singleness of vision. Paul had one, and only one, goal in life. His heart was not divided.

The strength of the laser lies in the concentration of light onto one point. Likewise, singleness of
purpose and vision is a necessity to victorious Christian living. James said that if we try to master many things, we will fail (James 3:1). We have to make priorities and focus on those things. Paul had only one goal that he described in these verses.

Some people have misunderstood this verse and taught that we are to forget everything in the past.
That is not what Paul was saying. The Scriptures teach us that memory can be a very powerful force for good in our lives. In context, Paul was speaking about forgetting all the things that he used to trust in prior to his salvation experience (Phil. 3:4‐8).
Paul forgot his own attainments and focused only on what Christ had done for him.

The word “forgetting” in the Greek is “EPILANTHANOMAI,” and it means “to forget . . . given over to oblivion” (Thayer’s Greek‐English Lexicon). The Greek verb for “reaching forth unto” is
“EPEKTEINOMAI,” and it means “‘to stretch out to’ . . . ‘to stretch’ (oneself) ‘forward to’” (Thayer’s Greek‐English Lexicon), as a runner that is running in the Greek games for the prize.