For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh — though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee
(Philippians 3:3-5)
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee
(Philippians 3:3-5)
Paul points at his Pharisee status as "reason to put confidence in the flesh"
((though of course he prefaces this by explaining that, having been immersed in Christ, he has no confidence in the flesh))
two sapient points here:
Paul at this point is speaking by the the Spirit of God and knows the gospel truth better than anyone here. serving by the Spirit negates any confidence in works or attributes of the flesh. they are counted as dung.
this Paul, full of knowledge of God, counts Phariseeism as being a good reason to boast in the flesh. it is presented as a good attribute in the context of works-righteousness. it's the fact that the flesh profits nothing, not the intrinsic value of being a Pharisee, that makes this worthless after having known and received the gospel.
i.e. he is not mentioning it as though it is an evil thing in and of itself. it's something a man could boast of, if such boasting were not totally negated by the atoning work of the Lord: put in direct comparison ((not contrast!)) with such things as being an Hebrew by lineage, having been circumcised, being zealous for God, and blameless in the sight of the Law.