The Meaning of Philippians 3:4 Explained

Philippians 3:4

KJV: 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:

YLT: though I also have cause of trust in flesh. If any other one doth think to have trust in flesh, I more;

Darby: Though I have my trust even in flesh; if any other think to trust in flesh, I rather:

ASV: though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:

Discover Philippians 3:4

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Philippians 3:4?

MEANING: What does Philippians 3:4 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Philippians 3:4 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Philippians 3:4?

What is the context of Philippians 3:4?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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:

What does Philippians 3:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

For the sake of the argument Paul adopted the Judaizers" attitude of confidence in the flesh. He did this to show that his rejection of Jewish advantages was not because he lacked them. Paul used the same approach in 2 Corinthians 11:26 to 2 Corinthians 12:12. He cited seven advantages, the first four being things he inherited and the last three things he chose by conviction.

Context Summary

Philippians 3:1-12 - Losing All To Know Christ

Precept must be on precept, line on line. The false teachers who dogged Paul's steps insisted on rigid conformity to Judaism, with its rabbinical accretions, as the condition of being saved by Christ. Paul's answer was that he had gone through all the requirements of Judaism, but had found it absolutely unsatisfactory and inefficient to subdue the sin of his soul. But in Christ he had found everything he needed. What had been gain to him now seemed but dross. He had found the pearl of great price, and was only too glad to sacrifice all else to purchase and keep it, as the talisman of complete victory.

The essence of Judaism was not external but within. True circumcision was deliverance from the self-life, and that could only be gained by the Cross of Christ. The "Israelite indeed," like Nathanael, had three traits of character-his worship was spiritual, he gloried in the Crucified, and he was delivered from reliance upon the self-life. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to teach us to know Jesus in the intimacy of personal fellowship, to feel the pulse of His resurrection life, to experience the power of His death, and to realize the whole of His divine program. For this we might be more than content to trample on our boasted pride. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 3

¹ He warns them to beware of the false teachers;
⁴ showing that himself has greater cause than they to trust in the righteousness of the law;
⁷ which he counts as loss, to gain Christ and his righteousness;
¹² acknowledging his own imperfection and pressing on toward the goal;
¹⁵ He exhorts them to be thus minded;
¹⁷ and to imitate him,
¹⁸ and to decline carnal ways

Greek Commentary for Philippians 3:4

Might have [εχων]
Rather, “even though myself having.” [source]

Confidence [πεποιτησιν]
Late word, condemned by the Atticists, from πεποιτα pepoitha (just used). See note on 2 Corinthians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 3:4. [source]

Though I might also have confidence [καίπερ ἐγὼ ἔχων πεποίθησιν]
Lit., even though myself having confidence. Also should be joined with the flesh and rendered even. Rev., though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. The sense of the translation might have is correct; but Paul puts it that he actually has confidence in the flesh, placing himself at the Jews' stand-point. [source]

Thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust [δοκεῖ πεποιθέναι]
The A.V. is needlessly verbose. Rev., much better, thinketh to have confidence. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 3:4 mean?

though I have confidence even in [the] flesh If any thinks other to have confidence more

καίπερ ἐγὼ ἔχων πεποίθησιν καὶ ἐν σαρκί Εἴ τις δοκεῖ ἄλλος πεποιθέναι μᾶλλον

καίπερ	though
Parse: Conjunction Root: καίπερ Sense: although.
πεποίθησιν	confidence
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: πεποίθησις Sense: trust, confidence, reliance.
καὶ	even
Parse: Conjunction Root: καί Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
σαρκί	[the] flesh
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: σάρξ Sense: flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts.
τις	any
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: τὶς Sense: a certain, a certain one.
δοκεῖ	thinks
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: δοκέω Sense: to be of opinion, think, suppose.
ἄλλος	other
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἄλλος Sense: another, other.
πεποιθέναι	to have confidence
Parse: Verb, Perfect Infinitive Active Root: ἐπισείω Sense: persuade.
μᾶλλον	more
Parse: Adverb Root: μᾶλλον Sense: more, to a greater degree, rather.

What are the major concepts related to Philippians 3:4?

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Similar Scriptures for Philippians 3:4

2 Corinthians 11:18-22 [2]