Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Philippians 3:4

Textus Receptus:
καιπερ εγω εχων πεποιθησιν και εν σαρκι ει τις δοκει αλλος πεποιθεναι εν σαρκι εγω μαλλον

King James:
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:

Comments:
I more: While Paul's comment could be taken as braggadocio, it obviously is not since he does not value the thing he says he used to possess to such a great extent--hence the "no confidence in the flesh" at the end of the previous verse. Paul establishes the contrast between those whose confidence (trust, persuasion) is in the wrong thing (the flesh) and those whose confidence is in the right thing throughout this book, particularly in chapter 1:6 and chapter 1:14 as well as these two verses (chapter 3:3-4).

Expanded Paraphrase:
Although, as far as having confidence in the flesh goes, if there is anyone who thinks that he has reason to trust in his flesh, I have more.

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