Philippians 3:6
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Philippians 3:6 in other translations
| BSB | as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless. |
|---|---|
| WEB | concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. |
| ASV | as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. |
| YLT | according to zeal persecuting the assembly! according to righteousness that is in law becoming blameless! |
| DARBY | as to zeal, persecuting the assembly; as to righteousness which is in the law, found blameless; |
| BBE | In bitter hate I was cruel to the church; I kept all the righteousness of the law to the last detail. |
| Webster | Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; with respect to the righteousness which is by the law, blameless. |
What does Philippians 3:6 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. So far as the righteousness which can be obtained by obeying the law is concerned, it is not needful to suppose here that he refers merely to the ceremonial law; but the meaning is, that he did all that could be done to obtain salvation by the mere observance of law. It was supposed by the Jews, and especially by the Pharisees, to which sect he belonged, that it was possible to be saved in that way; and Paul says that he had done all that was supposed to be necessary for that. We are not to imagine that, when he penned this declaration, he meant to be understood as saying that he had wholly complied with the law of God; but that, before his conversion, he supposed that he had done all that was necessary to be done in order to be saved by the observance of law. He neglected no duty that he understood it to enjoin. He was not guilty of deliberately violating it. He led a moral and strictly upright life, and no one had occasion to "blame" or to accuse him as a violator of the law of God. There is every reason to believe that Paul, before his conversion, was a young man of correct deportment, of upright life, of entire integrity; and that he was free from the indulgences of vice and passion, into which young men often fall. In all that he ever says of himself as being "the chief of sinners," and as being "unworthy to be called an apostle," he never gives the least intimation that his early life was stained by vice, or corrupted by licentious passions. On the contrary, we are left to the fair presumption that, if any man could be saved by his own works, he was that man. This fact should be allowed to make its proper impression on those who are seeking salvation in the same way; and they should be willing to inquire whether they may not be deceived in the matter, as he was, and whether they are not in as much real danger in depending on their own righteousness, as was this most upright and zealous young man.
(c) "zeal, persecuting" Acts 22:3,4, Gall 1:13,14 (+) "in" "by" (d) "blameless" Lk 1:6
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philippians 3:1-11
Sincere Christians rejoice in Christ Jesus. The prophet calls the false prophets dumb dogs, Is 56:10; to which the apostle seems to refer. Dogs, for their malice against faithful professors of the gospel of Christ, barking at them and biting them. They urged human works in opposition to the faith of Christ; but Paul calls them evil-workers. He calls them the concision; as they rent the church of Christ, and cut it…
Philippians 3:6 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Philippians 3:6
- Galatians 1:13-14
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
- Acts 8:3
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
- Acts 26:9-10
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
- Acts 22:3-4
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
- Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- Acts 26:5
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
- Romans 9:31-32
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
- 1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
- 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:
- Luke 1:6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
- Mark 10:20-21
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
- 1 Timothy 1:13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 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;
- Philippians 3:6
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
- Philippians 3:7
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Philippians 3:6 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Cuanto al celo, perseguidor de la iglesia; cuanto á la justicia que es en la ley, irreprensible. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | quant au zèle, persécutant l’assemblée; quant à la justice qui est par la loi, étant sans reproche. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | was den Eifer betrifft, ein Verfolger der Versammlung; was die Gerechtigkeit betrifft, die im Gesetz ist, tadellos erfunden. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | secundum æmulationem persequens Ecclesiam Dei, secundum justitiam, quæ in lege est, conversatus sine querela. |