February 9
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PAUL’S LEGITIMACY AS A HEBREW OF HEBREWS
4 Although I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. – Philippians 3:4-6
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In these passages in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he tells them why he as more reason to have confidence in the flesh. In verse 5, one of his reasons is that he belongs to the tribe of Benjamin, a distinguished tribe, because it gave Israel its first king, Saul as 1 Samuel 9:1-2 states. He was also circumcised on the eight day in accordance with Leviticus 12:3. Since he came from the tribe of Benjamin, he was a true descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, therefore, an heir to God’s covenant with them. Paul also claims that he is a Hebrew of Hebrews, meaning he was a Jew who embraced Greek culture as it spread through the Mediterranean. According to a commentary by David Guzik, during those times, many Jews were ashamed of being Jews and liked to live like Greeks, and sometimes even to the point of having their circumcision cosmetically restored or hidden so they could enjoy the Roman public baths without being noticed as Jews. In contrast, Paul was raised by his parents as a Hebrew of the Hebrews.
Paul has all the reasons why he might have confidence in the flesh. He says that among an elite people which were the Jews, he was of an elite sect, the Pharisees, who were known for their scrupulous devotion to God’s laws. According to another commentary, there were not even six thousand Pharisees, who were called the spiritual athletes of Judaism. Pharisee, their very name, means “The Separated Ones.” Barclays says that they had separated themselves off from all common life and from all common tasks in order to make it the one aim of their lives to keep every smallest detail of the law. Paul was not merely an intellectual opponent of perceived heresies against Judaism; he was also an active fighter against them – even in his blindness to God. This shows that Paul achieved the standard of righteousness which was accepted among the men of his day. So, Paul claims that he is more than qualified than anyone else to boast in the flesh than any of the Jews who claim righteousness and zeal for following the laws. He knows them more than any other Jews who claims they do.
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REFLECTION
• What is Paul’s point in stating that he is a Hebrew of Hebrews to the Philippians?