Philippians 3:5

Circumcised&c. Quite lit., "as to circumcision, eight days old." See Genesis 17:12; Luke 2:21. He was neither a proselyte, circumcised as an adult, nor an Ishmaelite, circumcised (as Josephus tells us, Antiquities, xii. i. § 2; see Genesis 17:25) at thirteen, but a member of the covenant from infancy.

Israel The name may refer here either to the original and individual Israel, Jacob (Genesis 32:28 &c.), or to the collective Israel, the chosen nation. The former is more likely, in view of the next clause, and would besides be the more vivid and emphatic reference; "one of the race descended from God's Prince."

The words Israel, Israelite, indicate specially the sacred privileges and dignity of the Covenant People as such; see Trench, N.T. Synonyms, § xxxix., and Lightfoot, on Galatians 6:16. Cp. Romans 9:4; Rom 11:1; 2 Corinthians 11:22; Ephesians 2:12; and see John 1:47; John 1:49.

Benjamin So he had previously said, Romans 11:1. See Acts 13:21 for another mention by St Paul of his tribe, though in another connexion. He names his tribe, not only to emphasize his nationality, but no doubt because the Benjamites, descendants of the last and much loved son of Jacob, had given the nation its first lawful king (whose name the Apostle bore), and had with Judah remained "faithful among the faithless" at the great Disruption (1 Kings 12:21). Ehud early in O.T. history (Judges 3), and Mordecai late (Esther 2:5), were Benjamites. It is interesting to trace in St Paul's character some of the characteristics of this small but remarkable tribe; stern courage and persistent fidelity. But certainly it was something better than Benjamite "obstinacy and persistency" (Smith's Bible Dict., s.v. Benjamin) which made him resist the entreaties of the disciples and avow himself ready to die for the Lord (Acts 21:12-13). See further, Conybeare and Howson, Life &c. of St Paul, ch. 2.

a Hebrew of the Hebrews With R.V., omit "the." Cp. again 2 Corinthians 11:22. The words mean that he was a Hebrew and of Hebrew lineage. What is a "Hebrew" in N.T. phraseology? In O.T. the word is the distinctive national term, as against other national terms, as Egyptian, Philistine &c.; and is thus the term by which a heathen would designate an Israelite. By the N.T. era its bearing had changed, and in the N.T. (not in later Christian writers, or in Jewish and pagan writers,) it designates the Jew who retained, more or less fully, his national language and manners, as against the "Hellenist" who habitually spoke Greek and largely conformed to Gentile customs. See Acts 6:1. The "Hebrew" would thus naturally regard himself as one of the éliteof his race, from the historical and traditional point of view. See further, Trench, as quoted just above on "Israel," and Conybeare and Howson, ch. 2.

the law Lit., "law"; but here, as often, the article is omitted because not needed before a word defined by use or context. Obviously the Mosaic ordinances are mainly intended.

a Pharisee So he declares himself Acts 23:6; Acts 26:5. And see Acts 22:3; Galatians 1:14. "The Pharisees … were the enthusiasts of the later Judaism" (Conybeare and Howson, as above); the zealous and rigid votaries of religious legal precision, elaborate devotion, vigorous proselytism, and exclusive privilege. St Paul was "the son of Pharisees" (Acts 23:6; though Lightfoot suggests that this means "disciple of Pharisees"; improbably, as it seems to us), and the student-follower of the Pharisee (Acts 5:34) Gamaliel, probably "Rabban" Gamaliel, grandson of Hillel. Cp. Acts 22:3.