Summary: Here Paul is beginning his testimony, starting with his Judaic background. He once persecuted the church heavily, even “trying to destroy it.” He was far beyond that of other aspiring Jews his own age. He was zealous for his ancestor’s traditions, seeking with all his might to live by the law which was rigorous. Some scholars would say that he may have had the entire Pentateuch committed to memory. Impressive, call Paul a scripture memory champ.
Timeless Principle: Paul is beginning with some of his own background as he begins to guard his apostleship in giving it credence. He petitions to the Galatians rhetorically asking if they had heard of his Judaic history. He stood alone; he was the best at observing the law and holding true to its outward commands. He was a student of the Great Pharisee, Gamaliel [see Acts 22: 3], who was one of the most respected Pharisees of his time. Gamaliel was one of, if not the only Pharisee who served on the Jewish Sanhedrin (almost completely made up of Sadducees), a truly rare find [see Acts 5: 34]. Being Gamaliel’s disciple, Paul receieved some of the greatest teaching that a Jew could have received and it showed in his scriptural understanding and zeal to carry out the law. In regards to his own achievements Paul says this, “though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless “[Phil. 3: 4-6]. John Piper calls this a layout of Paul’s spiritual trophy case. He was circumcised in accordance with the law on eighth day, born into the tribe of Benjamin, a full-blood Jew. In regaurds to the law he was a Pharisee, upholding the law and guarding it. He gained zeal through seeking out and fighting to destroy Christians. He was probably one of the more respected Jews of his age. In retrospect, he would have been much like the guy who was valedictorian, prom king, and quarterback in high school. But what is interesting about this, is the fact that God violently changed his heart. Paul counted all of his achievements as but loss in comparison to knowing Christ as his lord [Phil. 3:7-8]. This is why Paul is arguing; he is arguing to prove that salvation is not by ANY works of the law but through Christ alone and anyone who would try to earn through the merit of Moses’s law is placing themselves under a curse [3:10]. Paul is using his testimony to say to the Galatians that I was did what you are trying to do (fulfill the law) and it was meaningless because grace is not earned but freely given. So let us not pursue righteousness by our own works but let us rest only in Christ [Phil. 3: 8].
My Prayer: Father, I have a dirty past like Paul. I prided myself in my works, even mocking those who were not as good as me. I was not worshipping you but rather I was worshipping myself, hating you. Although I cursed and scoffed at men, against you alone did I sin, even causing you to burn with fury. You had, by your own nature in being perfectly just, to punish my sin. But this did not stop you from loving me all the same, so much so that instead of crushing my sin on my head you destroyed your son, paving the way for me to commune with you. Your Son’s is the only righteousness that can provide me with a way back to your side not any that I pursue in upholding the law. Father remind me and your church of our deprivation, causing us to rely on you and you alone instead of on works like the church in Galatia.
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