I also wanted to share with you about
an interpolation in Philippians that I got excited about simply
because in was confirmed as an interpolation not just once but two
times! It is chapter 3 verse 6, “as touching zeal, persecuting the
church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found
blameless”. It is confirmed as an interpolation first of all
because of my “Interpolation confirmation rule” number 2, which
says, “A confirmation source quotes both before and after but
leaves out the text in question; but only if the “Rules for
identifying interpolations” identifies the text as an
interpolation”. But it is also confirmed a second time because at
the place where Tertullian quoted verse 7 he referenced verse 5 as
“the preceding verse”! Tertullian: ““those things which he
had once accounted gain,” [a quote from verse 7] and which he
enumerates in the preceding verse—“trust in the flesh,”
[from verse 5] the sign of “circumcision,” his origin as “an
Hebrew of the Hebrews,” his descent from “the tribe of Benjamin,”
his dignity in the honours of the Pharisee” [all from verse 5]
(“Against Marcion” by Tertullian, book 5, chapter 20)!
After the verses in that area are all
cleaned up what remains fits together quite well! “[3:4] though I
myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if anyone else thinks
to have confidence in the flesh, I yet
more: [3:5] circumcised the eighth day,
of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as
touching the law, a Pharisee; [3:6]
[3:7] But what things were gain to me, these
have I counted loss [3:8] for
the excellence of the knowledge of the Good One Jesus my Lord: for
whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung,
that I may gain the Good One [3:9] not
having a righteousness of mine own, which is of the law, but that
which is through him, the righteousness which is of God.
Not bad for a days work!
Tertullian was
also kind enough to share with us an argument that was apparently
made by Marcionites of his day about verse 9: “according to this
distinction”, Tertullian says, “the law did not proceed from the
God of Christ”. If the righteousness that is of God is not the same
righteousness that is of the law, it follows that the law did not
come from that God who is the God of Jesus. A reasonable argument I
think!
Peace!
Adrian
