Philippians 3:6 (KJV)

What does Philippians 3:6 mean?

Philippians 3:6 describes Paul’s former standing as a highly committed observer of the Jewish law. He points to two things that could have made him seem impressive by those standards: his fierce opposition to the church and his record of keeping the law.

Paul is speaking about his own past as he writes to the believers in Philippi. After listing his family background and place among the Pharisees in verse 5, he turns to his conduct. The church he once opposed was the community of people who followed Jesus.

The Greek behind Philippians 3:6

• “zeal” — ζῆλος (zēlos): The word can mean intense devotion or eagerness. Here Paul names his persecution of the church as evidence of how strongly he was committed to his cause.
• “persecuting” — διώκω (diōkō): The word can carry the sense of pursuing someone. In this verse, it describes Paul actively pursuing the church as an opponent.
• “blameless” — ἄμεμπτος (amemptos): The word means without grounds for blame. Paul applies it specifically to his standing under the law, presenting himself as someone whose conduct met its requirements.

Why Philippians 3:6 matters

• Paul’s claim about being “blameless” has a stated measure: “the righteousness which is in the law.” Here, righteousness means being regarded as doing what is right according to that law.
• Paul later changes how he values the credentials he has listed. In verse 7, he says that the things he once counted as gain he came to count as loss “for Christ.”