There are many ways to look at the man called Paul. We could examine his pedigree, his education, and his accomplishments. Here was a man who wrote the biggest part of the New Testament and who ever stands as the church’s greatest missionary. But how did this come about? Was it because of his pedigree, his line of descent? Paul obviously had the proper credentials as we read in Phil. 3:5, “…circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews…”
“Circumcised the eighth day,” meant that he was born of proper parents; both his father and mother were fully conformed to all the strict requirements of Jewish law. Paul also adds, “of the stock of Israel,” meaning that he came from the line of Abraham, lssac and Jacob, which was given the covenant name of Israel, because they were the elect race. (Gen. 32:28). But that isn’t all. Not only was he circumcised the eighth day, not only was he of the stock of Israel, but he was of the tribe of Benjamin. Paul came from the tribe that gave Israel its first king (I Sam. 9:1, 2). He came from the only tribe that did not sever its allegiance to the house of Judah and David. (I Kings 12:21). He came from the tribe that united with Judah and the Levites after the captivity to rebuild the temple. (Ezra 1:5). Of all the histories of the twelve tribes, that of Benjamin was among the most illustrious.
What more could Paul add to all these qualities? Not only was he circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, and of the tribe of Benjamin, but he was also “an Hebrew of the Hebrews.” All the children of Israel were called Israelites, but not all of them were called Hebrews. Only those that retained the Hebrew language and the Hebrew customs merited this name. There were many Jews in Paul’s day who took on the language and customs of the foreign countries in which they lived. But the family of Paul did not. They held fast to their traditions. They were not only Israelites, but Hebrews, still holding to all the ways and laws and the language of ancient Moses. To be “an Hebrew of the Hebrew’s” showed real loyalty and faithfulness.
When we review all of Paul’s qualities, it seems that he has a right to boast of his lineage and his accomplishments. But why did Paul really write this in his letter to the Phillipians? Was Paul proud of his pedigree? If we go back to Philippians 3:3-5 we read, “…and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh. I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews…” Paul meant to say that if anyone thought highly of themselves, he surely had the right to esteem himself even more so. Paul was trying to tell the Philippians that the more you make of pedigree, the less you make of Christ.
This was important to the Philippians and it is important to us as young people of the church today. We must not rest on our laurels, so to speak, saving that we were baptized as infants and our parents and grandparents have been in the church for generations holding to custom and tradition in the Reformed faith. We must experience Paul’s experience when he finally admitted he was nothing. Then, to him, Christ became everything.
Disregarding his pedigree completely. Paul says in Romans 3:22.23 that “…there is no difference: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” And in I Timothy 1:15 Paul states that “…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am chief.”
But Paul does not leave us without the hope of salvation, for we read in Romans 5:6. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” And in the first verse of the eighth chapter he writes. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
Chapter twelve of Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians deals with the life of thankfulness and service to God that Christians must live in their gratitude for salvation. Paul writes in Romans 12:1.2. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God. that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”