Confidence in What? – Three times in vs. 3-4, Paul uses the phrase, "confidence in the flesh" (TEV= "trust in external ceremonies"). What precisely does Paul want to say? Is "flesh" to mean, humanity in its weakness? Or as the TEV suggests, does the phrase speak more to anything that is physical, external, visible, and temporal vis-à-vis that which is spiritual, or internal, invisible, and eternal? Such is at the core of Paul’s contrast which follows.

Shadowboxing – Of whom is Paul referring to when he says, "If anyone else has reason to be confident . . ." (3:4)? The Judaizers? Gentiles who had succumbed to the teaching of the Judaizers? To whomever Paul alludes, he models his own credentials such that it exudes utmost confidence in the flesh. Paul is from Jacob’s favorite son, Benjamin, a Jew by racial descent, and Hebrew all the way down to the mother tongue—which few Jews spoke any longer.

Profits and Losses – Paul brings out the ledger and compares the advantages of confidence in the flesh via Law in contrast to his new status of being in Christ. The noun "gain" (v. 7) is echoed by the verb, "to gain" (v. 8); "regard/consider" is used 3x as is the name, "Christ;" the noun "loss" occurs 2x, followed by the verb, "to lose;" by his language arrangement and word plays, Paul demonstrates that he "now regards his former privileges as mere rubbish" (dung). [1]

 

Ambrose commentary on Paul’s "I consider it all as mere garbage:" Paul had read that Job, sitting on his refuse heap, had found God’s grace in his extreme humility and had recovered all his losses. He had read in David’s prophecy that God raises the needy from the earth and the pauper from the refuse. [2]

• How might "confidence in the flesh" look like in post-modern society? Expertise? Good reputation? Education? Etc.

 

Block #1—General discussion about resumes, vitae, references that our culture is accustomed to—educational pedigree; business connections, connections to celebrities, etc.

Block #2—Shift to ancient Paul’s pedigree—unpack his language and describe the potential advantages of such a resume.

Block #3—Move to Paul’s transformative experience that seemingly renders his early bio unnecessary and unimportant. What does this piece tell us about our own reliance on personal accomplishments and accolades? We can look forward to a day—and begin to live it now—in which the hope of "resurrection is reality and where competition gives way to salvation." [3]

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[1] The New Interpreter’s Bible XI (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000), page 526.
[2] Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture VIII (Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity, 1999), p. 270.
[3] Sean White, in The Abingdon Preaching Annual 2002 Ed., page 348.