Philippians 3:4

4 quamquam ego habeam confidentiam et in carne si quis alius videtur confidere in carne ego magis

Philippians 3:4 Meaning and Commentary

Philippians 3:4

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh
This he says, lest it should be objected to him, that the reason why he had no confidence in the flesh, and did not boast of it, was, because he could not; he had nothing to glory of, and put his confidence in, and therefore acted the common part of such persons, who despise what either they have not, or are ignorant of: but this was not the apostle's case, he had as much reason, and as good a foundation for trust in himself, his privileges and attainments, as any man had, and more; and his meaning here is not, that he might lawfully have confidence in the flesh, for that is criminal in every one, but that he had as good pretensions to it; and were it lawful, might with greater appearance of truth do it than some other persons, or indeed any other:

if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the
flesh, I more:
the sense is, if there were any other person besides the false teachers he speaks of in ( Philippians 3:2 ) ; that were of the judaizing sect, or any whatever of the Jewish nation, be he who he will, who thought within himself he had, or seemed to others to have (for all such confidence, and the grounds of it, are only in show and appearance, and in imagination, not in reality), reasons for boasting and trusting in himself and in his carnal privileges and performances, the apostle had more, and which he enumerates in ( Philippians 3:5 Philippians 3:6 ) ; not but that he might be exceeded by some in some one particular or another; as for instance, he was not of the tribe of Levi: nor of Judah; he was neither of the house of Aaron, nor of David; neither of the priestly line, nor of the blood royal; but taking all together, there was not a man in whom so many reasons met, for boasting and confidence in the flesh, as in himself.

Philippians 3:4 In-Context

2 videte canes videte malos operarios videte concisionem
3 nos enim sumus circumcisio qui spiritu Deo servimus et gloriamur in Christo Iesu et non in carne fiduciam habentes
4 quamquam ego habeam confidentiam et in carne si quis alius videtur confidere in carne ego magis
5 circumcisus octava die ex genere Israhel de tribu Beniamin Hebraeus ex Hebraeis secundum legem Pharisaeus
6 secundum aemulationem persequens ecclesiam Dei secundum iustitiam quae in lege est conversatus sine querella
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.