Philippians 3
1 To sum up: my dear friends, delight in the Lord! It's not a burden for me to repeat these things to you—it's to keep you safe!
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not irksome to me, and for you it is safe.
2 Watch out for the wolves, those who do evil, those who insist on physical circumcision—
Beware of those that are like dogs, beware of evil doers, beware of the concision.
3 for it's we who are truly circumcised, worshiping by the Spirit of God, placing our assurance in Christ Jesus. We have no confidence in human abilities—
For we are of the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in the flesh.
4 for if there was a way to rely on human nature then I myself could have that confidence! If anyone thinks they have confidence in such human things, then I outdo them:
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinks he hath whereof to trust in the flesh, I more:
5 I was circumcised on the eighth day, I'm an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, a true Hebrew. Regarding legal observance I'm a Pharisee;
having been circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of Hebrews, with respect to the law a pharisee,
6 as for religious dedication I was a persecutor of the church; while in regard to doing right according to the law I was blameless!
as to zeal persecuting the church, as to the righteousness of the law blameless: but those things,
7 But in whatever way such things gained me anything, I count them as a loss for Christ.
which were once gain to me, I counted loss for Christ.
8 Truly, I count everything as loss in exchange for the incredible benefit I've gained through knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I've thrown away all these things for him, and consider them trash, so that I might gain Christ.
Yea doubtless and I count all but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all, and I account them but dung, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him,
9 I want to be found in him, not being right because of what I've done, or what the law requires, but made right through confidence in Christ, set right by God through trusting in him.
not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is by the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him,
10 I want to really know him, and the power of his resurrection—to take part in his suffering and become like him in his death,
and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death;
11 so that somehow I might be part of the resurrection from the dead!
if by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead:
12 Not that I've already got it all, or that I'm already perfect—but I run so that I might win what was won for me by Christ Jesus.
not that I have yet won the prize, or am already perfect: but I press forward to acquire that perfection, for which also I have been apprehended by Christ Jesus.
13 My friends, I don't consider that I've already won, but this is my one objective: disregarding what is behind me, I strain forward to what is in front of me.
Brethren, I count not myself to have attained it: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to those before,
14 I run towards the finish line to win the prize of God's invitation to heaven through Christ Jesus.
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Those of us who are spiritually mature should think like this, and if you think anything different, then God will reveal this to you.
Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, attend to this: and if in any thing ye think differently, God will reveal this also unto you.
16 We just need to make sure that we follow what we already have understood.
But in what we have attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 My friends, copy my example as others do and take note of the way to behave since you have us as a model.
Brethren, be imitators of me, and observe those that walk as ye have us for an example.
18 The way some people live makes them enemies of the cross of Christ—as I've often told you before and repeat again though it pains me so much I want to weep.
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction,
19 They will end up being completely lost, these people whose “god” is their physical desires and who are proud of what they should be ashamed of, thinking only about the things of this world.
whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who mind earthly things) For our conversation is in heaven,
20 But our homeland is heaven, and we're waiting for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from there too.
from whence also we expect the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ: who will change our vile body,
21 He will re-create our defective human bodies so that they will be made like his glorious body using the power by which he brings everything under his control.
that it may be made like his glorious body, according to the energy of his ability to subdue all things to Himself.
