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Lenten Season · Fifth Sunday in Lent · Year C

Philippians 3:4b-14

No Confidence in the Flesh

April 2, 2028

The Conversion of Saul, Pieter Bruegel the Elder
The Conversion of Saul, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1567Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Bruegel hides the event. An army is crossing an Alpine pass, and only after looking for a while do you find the small fallen figure halfway up the column.Whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. The painting makes you search for the moment everything changed.Pieter Bruegel the ElderThe great painter of Netherlandish peasant life (c. 1525-1569), who put proverbs, seasons and crowds on canvas with an eye that is affectionate and entirely unsentimental.Kunsthistorisches Museum, ViennaThe Habsburg collection, assembled over four centuries and housed in a purpose-built palace on the Ringstrasse since 1891.Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelJohn 12:1-8Jn 12:1-8
EpistlePhil. 3:4b-14Phil 3:4b-14
Old TestamentIsa. 43:16-21Is 43:16-21
PsalterPs. 126Ps 126

Overview & Insights

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

First Conclusion: Call to Rejoice “With this communication about Epaphroditus now the epistle seems to be at an end” (Ewald, ad loc.). If so, nothing remains but a final word of greeting. The reader is therefore prepared for Finally.

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Take it further: Philippians 3:4b-14

Commentary

Philippians 3:4b-14Phil 3:4b-14 Working Preacher

Exegesis of Paul's credentials counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Philippians 3:4b-14Phil 3:4b-14 Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on righteousness by grace rather than credentials.

Philippians 3Phil 3 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse evangelical commentary covering the whole chapter.

Philippians 3:4Phil 3:4 BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries verse by verse from this passage.

Philippians 3Phil 3 StudyLight

An older, close reading of Paul's rejection of confidence in the flesh.

Background & Word Study

Philippians 3:4 InterlinearPhil 3:4 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear text for the passage.

The Church Fathers

Philippians 3, patristic commentaryPhil 3, patristic commentary Catena

Patristic commentary gathered verse by verse for the chapter.

Questions preachers ask

What does Paul count as loss?

Paul lists his impeccable credentials and then counts them all loss compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:4b–8). Righteousness comes not from the law but through faith, so he presses on toward the goal.

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