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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

Context of Philippians 3:6

4though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, 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 21:2The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.)
• 2 Kings 10:16Jehu said, “Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.” Then he had him ride along in his chariot.
• Acts 21:20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.
• Romans 10:2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
• Galatians 1:13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
• Acts 8:3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
• Acts 9:1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest
• Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
• Acts 26:9“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
• 1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
• 1 Timothy 1:13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
• Matthew 5:20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 23:25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
• Mark 10:20“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
• Luke 1:6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
• Acts 26:5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living 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