Philippians 3:6

Philippians 3:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
• New International Version (NIV)as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
• English Standard Version (ESV)as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
• New King James Version (NKJV)concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Context of Philippians 3:6

4though I myself might have [some grounds for] confidence in the flesh [if I were pursuing salvation by works]. If anyone else thinks that he has reason to be confident in the flesh [that is, in his own efforts to achieve salvation], I have far more: 5circumcised when I was eight days old, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews [an exemplary Hebrew]; as to the [observance of the] Law, a Pharisee; as to my zeal [for Jewish tradition], a persecutor of the church; and as to righteousness [supposed right living] which [my fellow Jews believe] is in the Law, I proved myself blameless. 7But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life]. 8But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ,

Philippians 3:6 word by word

κατὰ ζῆλος διώκων τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, κατὰ δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐν νόμῳ γενόμενος ἄμεμπτος.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Concerningκατάkata · according toG2596
• zealζῆλοςzēlos · zealG2205
• persecutingδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• the churchὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• the righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• isγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• blamelessἄμεμπτοςamemptos · blamelessG273

Cross-references for Philippians 3:6

• 2 Samuel 21:2So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons (descendants) of Israel but of the remnant (survivors) of the Amorites. The Israelites had sworn [an oath] to [spare] them, but Saul in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah had sought to strike down the Gibeonites).
• 2 Kings 10:16And he said, “Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.” So he had Jehonadab in his chariot.
• Acts 21:20And when they heard it, they began glorifying and praising God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all enthusiastic supporters of the Law [of Moses].
• Romans 10:2For I testify about them that they have a certain enthusiasm for God, but not in accordance with [correct and vital] knowledge [about Him and His purposes].
• Galatians 1:13You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it.
• Acts 8:3But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.
• Acts 9:1Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest,
• Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of the law of our fathers, being ardent and passionate for God just as all of you are today.
• Acts 26:9“So then, I [once] thought to myself that it was my duty to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
• 1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I [at one time] fiercely oppressed and violently persecuted the church of God.
• 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shameful and outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.
• Matthew 5:20“For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 23:25“Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and robbery and self-indulgence (unrestrained greed).
• Mark 10:20And he replied to Him, “Teacher, I have [carefully] kept all these [commandments] since my youth.”
• Luke 1:6They both were righteous (approved) in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
• Acts 26:5They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify to it, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I have lived as a Pharisee.

Commentaries on Philippians 3:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Concerning zeal - As to my zeal for Pharisaism, I gave the fullest proof of it by persecuting the Church of Christ; and this is known to all my countrymen. Touching the righteousness - And as to that plan of justification, which justification the Jews say is to be obtained by an observance of the law, I have done every thing so conscientiously from my youth up, that in this respect I am blameless; and may, with more confidence than most of them; expect…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church - Showing the greatness of my zeal for the religion which I believed to be true, by persecuting those whom I considered to be in dangerous error. Zeal was supposed to be, as it is, an important part of religion; see 2 Kings 10:16; Psalm 69:9; Psalm 119:139; Isaiah 59:17; Romans 10:2. Paul says that he had shown the highest degree of zeal that was possible. He had gone so far in his attachment for the religion of his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6as to zeal, persecuting the church (see Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–2, 21; Galatians 1:13): Paul's actions showed his strong support for Judaism, which saw the good news about Jesus as a threat. Paul’s righteousness, as judged by human standards, also showed his dedication to the law (see also Galatians 1:14; for Paul’s later Christian view, compare Romans 3:23; 7:14–25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. Concerning--Translate as before and after, "As touching Zeal" (compare Ac 22:3; 26:9). blameless--Greek, "having become blameless" as to ceremonial righteousness: having attained in the eyes of man blameless legal perfection. As to the holiness before God, which is the inner and truest spirit of the law, and which flows from "the righteousness of God by faith," he on the contrary declares (Php 3:12-14) that he has not attained perfection.Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 3:6

• Bigotry
• Formalism
• Testimony
• Works
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Belly
• Concision
• Count
• Earthly
• Gain
• God
• Mean
• Paul
• Press
• Safe

Commentaries on Philippians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings