< 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, my brethren, rejoice in our Lord. To write these things again and again to you, is not irksome to me, because they make you cautious.
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].
Beware of dogs; beware of evil doers; beware of the clipped in flesh.
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].
For we are the real circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Jesus the Messiah, and place no reliance on the flesh.
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.
And yet I might place reliance on the flesh. For, if any one thinketh that his reliance should be on the flesh, I might do so more than he.
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].
Circumcised when eight days old; of the stock of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, descendant of Hebrews; as 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.
as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; and as to the righteousness of the law, I was without fault.
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 these things, which had been my excellence, I have accounted a detriment, because of the Messiah.
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],
And now also I account them all a detriment, because of the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus the Messiah my Lord; for the sake of whom, I have parted with all things, and have accounted them as dung, that I might gain the Messiah,
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 be found in him; since my righteousness is not now that from the law, but that which is from faith in the Messiah, that is, the righteousness which is from God;
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,
that thereby I might know Jesus, and the efficacy of his resurrection; and might participate in his sufferings, and be assimilated to his death:
11 [because I expect that, as a result of God’s goodness], he will cause me to live again after I have died.
if so be, I may attain to the resurrection from 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 as though I had already taken the prize, or were already complete; but I run in the race, if so I may take that, for which Jesus the Messiah took me.
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.
My brethren, I do not consider myself, as having taken it. But one thing I know, that I forget the things behind me, and reach for the things before me;
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].
and I run straight for the goal, that I may obtain the prize of victory of the call of God from on high, by Jesus the Messiah.
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.
Therefore let those who are perfect, have these views; and if ye differently view any thing, God will reveal that also to you.
16 What is important is that we must conduct our lives according to what [God has already revealed to] us.
Nevertheless, that we may attain to this, let us proceed on in one path, and with one consent.
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].
Be like me, my brethren; and contemplate them, who walk after the pattern ye have seen in 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].
For there are many who walk otherwise; of whom I have often told you, and I now tell you, with weeping, that they are adversaries of the cross of the Messiah;
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 their belly, and their glory their shame; whose thoughts are on things of the earth.
20 [But remember] that we are citizens of heaven. And we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [to return] from there.
But our concern is with heaven; and from thence we expect our Vivifier, our Lord, Jesus the Messiah;
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 change the body of our abasement, that it may have the likeness of the body of his glory, according to his great power, whereby all things are made subject to him.

< Philippians 3 >