Albert Barnes Commentary Philippians 3:6

"as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless." — Philippians 3:6 (ASV)

Concerning zeal, persecuting the Church. Showing the greatness of my zeal for the religion which I believed to be true, by persecuting those whom I considered to be in dangerous error. Zeal was supposed to be, as it is, an important part of religion. See 2 Kings 10:16; Psalms 69:9; Psalms 119:139; Isaiah 59:17; Romans 10:2.

Paul says that he had shown the highest degree of zeal that was possible. He had gone so far in his attachment to the religion of his fathers as to pursue, with intent to kill, those who had departed from it and embraced a different form of belief. If any, therefore, could hope for salvation on the ground of extraordinary devotion to religion, he said that he could.

Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. As far as the righteousness which can be obtained by obeying the law is concerned, it is not necessary to suppose here that he refers merely to the ceremonial law.

Instead, the meaning is that he did all that could be done to obtain salvation by the mere observance of law.

It was supposed by the Jews, and especially by the Pharisees (the sect to which he belonged), that it was possible to be saved in that way; and Paul says that he had done all that was supposed to be necessary for that.

We should not imagine that when he wrote this declaration, he meant it to be understood that he had completely complied with the law of God. Rather, before his conversion, he supposed that he had done everything necessary to be saved by observing the law.

He neglected no duty that he understood it to require. He was not guilty of deliberately violating it. He led a moral and strictly upright life, and no one had occasion to "blame" or accuse him as a violator of God's law.

There is every reason to believe that Paul, before his conversion, was a young man of correct conduct, upright life, and entire integrity. He was also free from the indulgences of vice and passion into which young men often fall.

In all that he ever says of himself as being the chief of sinners, and as being unworthy to be called an apostle, he never gives the least intimation that his early life was stained by vice or corrupted by licentious passions. On the contrary, we are left to the fair presumption that, if any man could be saved by his own works, he was that man.

This fact should be allowed to make its proper impression on those who are seeking salvation in the same way. They should be willing to inquire whether they may not be deceived in the matter, as he was, and whether they are not in as much real danger depending on their own righteousness as was this most upright and zealous young man.

Regarding "in" (or "by") the law, and "blameless" .