Philippians 3:6

ζῆλος. So א*Obadiah 1:2*. אcD2b, c and the cursives read ζῆλον, the classical form. In Clem. Rom. Ep. ad Cor. both forms are freely used: e.g. διὰ ζῆλος, § 4, διὰ ζῆλον, § 5.

6. κατὰ ζῆλος. Here in the sense of ardour, earnestness; sincere, though sinfully conditioned by moral blindness. (See Acts 26:9 ἐγὼ … ἔδοξα ἐμαυτῷ πρὸς τὸ ὄνομα … δεῖν πολλὰ ἐναντία πρᾶξαι.)—Ζῆλος sometimes takes the meaning of jealousy, rancour; e.g. Romans 13:13, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. But this would be out of place here.

διώκων τὴν ἐκκλησίαν. See his own words, Acts 26:11, περισσῶς ἐμμαινόμενος αὐτοῖς ἐδίωκον, κτλ.: 1 Corinthians 15:9, ἐδίωξα τὴν ἐκκλ. τοῦ θεοῦ: Galatians 1:13, καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλ. τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν.

κατὰ δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐν νόμῳ. Literally, “as to law-included righteousness.” He means evidently completeness of legal observance, with its supposed claims to merit. No inquisitor could have found him defective here.

γενόμενος ἄμεμπτος. Almost, “turning out blameless.” R.V. well, “found blameless.”

On the Pharisaic theory, his position was perfect, his title to “confidence in the flesh” complete.