Philippians 3:6

“Concerning zeal, persecuting the church, etc.] The Vulgate Latin version adds, “of God”, as in (<480113>Galatians 1:13). The apostle was very zealous of the traditions of the elders, and for the law of God, and towards God also; though his zeal was not according to knowledge, but blind, ignorant, and furious; which pushed him on to persecute the followers of Christ, and the church of Christ at Jerusalem more especially, in a very violent and outrageous manner; he held the clothes of those that stoned Stephen, (<440758>Acts 7:58); he consented unto his death, (<440801>Acts 8:1); he made havoc of the church at Jerusalem, haling men and women to prison, (<440803>Acts 8:3); he continued…”

“Concerning--Translate as before and after, "As touching Zeal" (compare Act 22:3; Act 26:9). blameless--Greek, "having become blameless" as to ceremonial righteousness: having attained in the eyes of man blameless legal perfection. As to the holiness before God, which is the inner and truest spirit of the law, and which flows from "the righteousness of God by faith," he on the contrary declares (Phi 3:12-14) that he has not attained perfection.”

“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 for the religion of his fathers, as to pursue with purposes of death those who had departed from it, and who had embraced a different form of belief. If any, therefore, could hope for salvation on the ground of extraordinary devotedness to religion, he said that…”

“Having such a zeal for it as to persecute to the death those who did not observe it. Touching the righteousness which is described and enjoined by the Law - That is, external observances, blameless. Philippians 3:7”

“3:6 I harshly persecuted the church (see Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-2, 21; Gal 1:13): His actions demonstrated his zeal for Judaism, to which the Good News of Jesus was seen as a threat. • Paul’s righteousness, as judged by human standards, was another indication of his zeal for the law (see also Gal 1:14; for Paul’s later Christian view, cp. Rom 3:23; 7:14-25).”

“zeal: Sa2 21:2; Kg2 10:16; Act 21:20; Rom 10:2; Gal 1:13, Gal 1:14 persecuting: Act 8:3, 9:1-19, Act 22:3, Act 22:4, Act 26:9, Act 26:10; Co1 15:9; Ti1 1:13 touching: Mat 5:20, Mat 23:25; Mar 10:20, Mar 10:21; Luk 1:6; Act 26:5; Rom 7:9, Rom 9:31, Rom 9:32, Rom 10:2-5 Philippians 3:7”