Philippians 3
1 [Now there are] other things [that I want to write about]. My fellow believers, continue to rejoice because [you belong to] the Lord. [Though] I will [now] write to you about those same matters [that I mentioned to you before, this is] not tiresome for me, and it will protect you [from those who would harm you spiritually].
Finally, brothers of mine, do rejoice in [the] Lord. The same things to write to you to me myself indeed [is] not troublesome, for you however [is] safe.
2 Beware of those [people who are dangerous] [MET] [like wild] dogs. They are [dangerous] evildoers [DOU]. Beware of them [since they are like people who] cut [other people’s] bodies [MET]. [They will harm you spiritually by insisting that you must let someone circumcise you in order for you to become God’s people] [MTY, MET].
do beware of the dogs, do beware of the evil workers, do beware of the false circumcision;
3 [Those people think that they are God’s people because someone has circumcised them]. But we, [not they], are [truly God’s people] [MET], [whether or not someone has] circumcised [us]. God’s Spirit [enables us to] [MTY] worship [God]; we praise Christ Jesus [because he has enabled us to become the people of God]. We do not believe [that God will consider/make us his people as a result of what someone has done to our] bodies [MTY, SYN].
We ourselves for are the circumcision, those in [the] Spirit (of God *N(k)O*) worshiping and glorying in Christ Jesus and not in [the] flesh having put confidence,
4 [We do not trust in those rituals to make us acceptable to God], although I could very well do that [if it would be useful for me]. Philippians 3:4b-6 [In fact], [if I could benefit from it for my salvation], I could rely upon what I have done and who I am [MTY, SYN] more than anyone else could! I will tell you why.
though I myself have confidence even in [the] flesh. If any thinks other to have confidence in [the] flesh, I myself more:
5 I [was circumcised] {[Someone] circumcised me} when I was one week old. I am from the people of Israel. I am from the tribe of Benjamin. I am completely Hebrew in every way. [While I was] a member of the Pharisee [sect], I [strictly obeyed] the laws [that God gave Moses].
circumcision on [the] eighth day, of [the] nation of Israel, of [the] tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, according to [the] Law a Pharisee,
6 I was [so] zealous [to make people obey those laws that] I caused the people who believe in Christ to suffer [because I thought they were trying to abolish those laws. Indeed], as far as my obeying those laws is concerned, no [one could] have accused [me by] saying that I had disobeyed any of those laws.
according to (zeal *N(k)O*) persecuting the church, according to righteousness which [is] in [the] Law having become faultless.
7 Nevertheless, all such things as those, which I used to [consider to] be useful to me, those [very] things I now consider worthless, because I [want to know] Christ (OR, in order that I [may know] Christ).
But whatever things were to me gain, these I have esteemed because of Christ loss;
8 More than that, I consider all things to be worthless, compared to how great it is to know Christ Jesus my Lord. Because I [want to know] him [better] (OR, In order that I [may know] him [better]), I have rejected all things as worthless. I consider them [as useless as] [MET] rubbish, in order that I may have [a close relationship with] Christ [MET],
But (rather *NK(o)*) also I count all things loss to be because of which is excelling the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord of mine because of whom all things I have lost and esteem [them] rubbish (to be *k*) that Christ I may gain
9 and in order that I may completely belong to him. It was not as a result of [my obeying] the laws [he gave Moses] that God erased the record of my sins. Instead, it is because I have trusted in Christ [that God] has declared that I am no longer guilty for my sins, and he enables me to act righteously. [It is] God [himself who] has erased the record of my sins, and he enables me to act righteously, [only] because I have trusted [in Christ].
and may be found in Him not having my own righteousness which [is] of [the] Law but that through faith from Christ, the of God righteousness on the basis of faith,
10 I [want] to know Christ [better and better]. Particularly, I [want] to continually experience [his working] powerfully in my life, [just like God worked powerfully when he] caused Christ to become alive after he died. I [also want to be continually willing] to suffer [in order that I may obey God], just like Christ suffered [in order that he might obey God. I also want] to be completely willing to die for [Christ], even as he died for me,
to know Him and the power of the resurrection of Him and the fellowship of the sufferings of Him being conformed to the death of Him,
11 [because I expect that, as a result of God’s goodness], he will cause me to live again after I have died.
if somehow I shall attain to the resurrection (that *N(k)O*) (out from *no*) [the] dead.
12 I do not claim that I have already become completely like Christ Jesus; that is, I have not already become all that God intends me to be [DOU]. But I earnestly try to become [more and more like Christ], because he chose me [in order that I might become like him].
Not for already I have obtained [it] or already (have been perfected, *NK(O)*) I am pursuing however if even I shall grasp of that for which also I was grasped by (*k*) Christ Jesus.
13 My fellow believers, I certainly do not consider that I have already become completely like Christ. But I [am like a runner. A runner does not look backward] [MET]. Instead, he leans/stretches forward as he runs straight toward the goal [in order that he might win the race and get the prize. Similarly], I do not think about what I have already done.
Brothers, I myself myself (not *NK(o)*) do consider to have grasped [it]; One thing however: The [things] indeed behind forgetting, to the [things] however ahead reaching forward,
14 Instead, I concentrate only on [continuing to become more and more like Christ right up to the end of my life] [MET]. As a result, because of my relationship with Christ Jesus, God will call/summon me to receive a reward from him [in heaven].
toward [the] goal I press on (for *N(k)O*) the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 So, all of us who are [spiritually] mature should think this [same way]. If any [of you] do not think this same way regarding what I [have written here], God will reveal that to you.
As many as therefore [are] mature, this [way] we may reason; and if anything differently you reason, even this God to you will reveal;
16 What is important is that we must conduct our lives according to what [God has already revealed to] us.
Nevertheless to that which we have attained, by the same [we are] to walk (rule [and] by the same reasoning. *K*)
17 My fellow believers, [all of] you should follow my example, and observe those people who act as I do, [in order that you may imitate them also].
Imitators together of me do be, brothers, and do observe those thus walking even as you have [for] a pattern us.
18 [Keep in mind that] there are many people [who say that they believe in Christ, but] who act [in such a way that shows] that they are opposed to [the teaching about] Christ [dying on] the cross [MTY]. I have told you about those people many times [before], and now I am sad, even crying, as I tell you [about them again].
Many for are walking — [of] whom often I was telling you, now indeed even weeping I say — [as] the enemies of the cross of Christ,
19 [God] will severely punish them. The things their bodies desire [MTY] have become [like] gods to them [MET]. They are proud of the things they should be ashamed of. They think only about what unbelievers [MTY] think about.
whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is] the belly and glory [is] in the shame of them, those [things] earthly minding.
20 [But remember] that we are citizens of heaven. And we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [to return] from there.
Of us for the citizenship in [the] heavens exists from whence also a Savior we are awaiting [the] Lord Jesus Christ,
21 By the power that enables him to put everything under his own control, he will change our weak bodies to become like his glorious body.
who will transform the body of the humiliation of us (toward to become it *K*) conformed to the body of the glory of Himself according to the working enabling Him even to subdue (to Him *N(k)O*) all things.
