Philippians 3
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me, and is a safeguard for you.
In conclusion, my brethren, be joyful in the Lord. For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while so far as you are concerned it is a safe precaution.
2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.
Beware of 'the dogs,' the bad workmen, the self-mutilators.
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
For we are the true circumcision--we who render to God a spiritual worship and make our boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in outward ceremonies:
4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:
although I myself might have some excuse for confidence in outward ceremonies. If any one else claims a right to trust in them, far more may I:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
circumcised, as I was, on the eighth day, a member of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church; as to the righteousness which comes through Law, blameless.
7 However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.
Yet all that was gain to me--for Christ's sake I have reckoned it loss.
8 More than that, I count all things to be a loss compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ
Nay, I even reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. And for His sake I have suffered the loss of everything, and reckon it all as mere refuse, in order that I may win Christ and be found in union with Him,
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
not having a righteousness of my own, derived from the Law, but that which arises from faith in Christ--the righteousness which comes from God through faith.
10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death;
I long to know Christ and the power which is in His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings and die even as He died;
11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
in the hope that I may attain to the resurrection from among the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
I do not say that I have already won the race or have already reached perfection. But I am pressing on, striving to lay hold of the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me.
13 Brothers, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forward to the things which are ahead,
Brethren, I do not imagine that I have yet laid hold of it. But this one thing I do--forgetting everything which is past and stretching forward to what lies in front of me,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
with my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God's heavenward call in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.
Therefore let all of us who are mature believers cherish these thoughts; and if in any respect you think differently, that also God will make clear to you.
16 Nevertheless, to what we have attained, let us walk by the same rule, being of the same mind.
But whatever be the point that we have already reached, let us persevere in the same course.
17 Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example.
Brethren, vie with one another in imitating me, and carefully observe those who follow the example which we have set you.
18 For many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ,
For there are many whom I have often described to you, and I now even with tears describe them, as being enemies to the Cross of Christ.
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
Their end is destruction, their bellies are their God, their glory is in their shame, and their minds are devoted to earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
We, however, are free citizens of Heaven, and we are waiting with longing expectation for the coming from Heaven of a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body into the likeness of his glorious body, according to the power by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.
who, in the exercise of the power which He has even to subject all things to Himself, will transform this body of our humiliation until it resembles His own glorious body.
