Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 3:4

"though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:" — Philippians 3:4 (ASV)

In stating that true believers put no confidence in the flesh, Paul has in mind the contrary teaching of those opponents who stressed the importance of conformity to Jewish practices. For the sake of argument, therefore, he temporarily adopts one of their attitudes (“confidence in the flesh”) and shows that his rejection of certain Jewish “advantages” was not because he was jealous that he did not possess them. If any one of these opponents should claim an advantage because of his Jewish heritage and practices, Paul wanted it known that in such matters he could stand on equal footing with any Judaizer. He personally disavowed such as reasons for confidence before God because he had found them inadequate to provide the righteousness God requires (cf. vv.7–9).