Evil workers. Compare deceitful workers, 2 Cor. xi. 18.
Concision (catatounyv). Only here in the New Testament. The kindred verb occurs in the Septuagint only, of mutilations forbidden by the Mosaic law. See Lev. xxi. 5. The noun here is a play upon wrepitoun circumcision. It means mutila- tion. Paul bitterly characterizes those who were not of the true circumcision (Rom. ii. 28, 29; Col. ii. 11; Eph. ii. 11) as merely mutilated. Compare Gal. v. 12, where he uses dtroxér- Tew to cut off, of those who would impose circumcision upon the Christian converts: “I would they would cut themselves of who trouble you;” that is, not merely circumcise, but mutilate themselves like the priests of Cybele.
3. The circumcision. The abstract term for those who are circumcised. In the Old Testament, circumcision was a meta- phor for purity. See Lev. xxvi. 41; Deut. x. 16; xxx. 6; Ezek. xliv. 7, ete.
Worship God in the spirit (rvetpate Ocd Natpevovtes). The correct reading is cod of God. Render, as Rev., worship by the Spirit of God. Worship. See on Apoe. xxii. 3. Paul uses the Jews’ word which denoted their own service of Jehovah as His peculiar people. Compare Acts xxvi. 7. A Jew would scandalized by the application of this term to Christian wor- ship.
Rejoice in Christ Jesus (cavyépevor). Rev., better, glory. Compare Jer. ix. 23, 24, and 1 Cor. i. 81; 2 Cor. x. 17.
In the flesh. External privileges of every kind.
Cu. III.] THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. i 445
4. Though | might also have confidence (xadrep éyo éxav tretroidnawv). Lit., even though myself having confidence. Also should be joined with the jlesh and rendered even. Rev., though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. The sense of the translation mzght have is correct; but Paul puts it that he actually has confidence in the flesh, placing himself at the Jews’ stand-point.
Thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust (doxe? aetrotévat). The A. VY. is needlessly verbose. Rev., much better, thinketh to have confidence.
5. Circumcised the eighth day (aepitoun oxtanpepos). Lit., eight days old in circumcision ; or passing the eighth day. For the idiom, see on John xi. 39, and compare Acts xxvill. 13. Converts to Judaism were circumcised in maturity: Ishma- elites in their thirteenth year. He was thus shown to be neither a heathen nor an Ishmaelite.
Of the stock of Israel. Nota proselyte, but of the original stock (yévous) ; not grafted into the covenant race. A descend- ant of Jacob, not an Idumaean nor an Ishmaelite. For Jsrael, see on Acts iii. 12, and compare Rom. ix. 4; xi. 1; John i. 47. Descended not from Jacob, the supplanter, but from Jsrael, the prince of God. See Gen. xxxii. 28.
Of the tribe of Benjamin. Not from one of the lost tribes, but from that which gave to Israel its first king; which alone was faithful to Judah at the separation under Rehoboam, and which had always held the post of honor in the army. See Judg. v. 14; Hos. v. 8. Benjamin only of the twelve patri- archs was born in the land of promise. Mordecai, the deliverer of the Jews from Haman was a Benjamite. Paul’s own orig- inal name, Saul, was probably derived from Saul the son of Kish, the Benjamite.
A Hebrew of the Hebrews (‘Efpaios é& “Efpaiwv). The (Hebrews) of the A. V. gives a wrong coloring to the phrase, as if Paul were claiming to be preéminently a Hebrew among other Hebrews. He meansa Hebrew from (é&) Hebrew parents. Reyv., a Hebrew of Hebrews, which is no special improvement.
446 ‘ WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IIL
The expression implies characteristics of language and man- ners. He might be an Israelite and yet a child of Greek-speak- ing Jews: but his parents had retained their native tongue and customs, and he himself, while understanding and speaking Greek, also spoke in Hebrew on occasion. See Acts xxi. 40; Xi 2s