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].
De cetero fratres mei gaudete in Domino. Eadem vobis scribere, mihi quidem non pigrum, vobis autem necessarium.
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].
Videte canes, videte malos operarios, videte concisionem.
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].
Nos enim sumus circumcisio, qui spiritu servimus Deo, et gloriamur in Christo Iesu, et non in carne fiduciam habentes,
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.
quamquam et ego habeam confidentiam in carne. Si quis alius videtur confidere in carne, ego magis,
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].
circumcisus octavo die, ex genere Israel, de tribu Beniamin, Hebraeus ex Hebraeis, secundum legem Pharisaeus,
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.
secundum aemulationem persequens Ecclesiam Dei, secundum iustitiam, quae in lege est, conversatus sine querela:
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).
Sed quae mihi fuerunt lucra, haec arbitratus sum propter Christum detrimenta.
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],
Verumtamen existimo omnia detrimentum esse propter eminentem scientiam Iesu Christi Domini mei: propter quem omnia detrimentum feci, et arbitror ut stercora, ut Christum lucrifaciam,
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].
et inveniar in illo non habens meam iustitiam, quae ex lege est, sed illam, quae ex fide est Christi Iesu: quae ex Deo est iustitia in fide
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,
ad cognoscendum illum, et virtutem resurrectionis eius, et societatem passionum illius: configuratus morti eius:
11 [because I expect that, as a result of God’s goodness], he will cause me to live again after I have died.
si quo modo occurram ad resurrectionem, quae est ex mortuis:
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].
non quod iam acceperim, aut iam perfectus sim: sequor autem, si quomodo comprehendam in quo et comprehensus sum a Christo Iesu.
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.
Fratres, ego me non arbitror comprehendisse. Unum autem: quae quidem retro sunt obliviscens, ad ea vero, quae sunt priora, extendens meipsum,
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].
ad destinatum persequor, ad bravium supernae vocationis Dei in Christo Iesu.
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.
Quicumque ergo perfecti sumus, hoc sentiamus: et si quid aliter sapitis, et hoc vobis Deus revelabit.
16 What is important is that we must conduct our lives according to what [God has already revealed to] us.
Verumtamen ad quod pervenimus ut idem sapiamus, et in eadem permaneamus regula.
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].
Imitatores mei estote fratres, et observate eos qui ita ambulant, sicut habetis formam nostram.
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].
Multi enim ambulant, quos saepe dicebam vobis (nunc autem et flens dico) inimicos crucis Christi:
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.
quorum finis interitus: quorum Deus venter est: et gloria in confusione ipsorum, qui terrena sapiunt.
20 [But remember] that we are citizens of heaven. And we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [to return] from there.
Nostra autem conversatio in caelis est: unde etiam Salvatorem expectamus Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum,
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.
qui reformabit corpus humilitatis nostrae, configuratum corpori claritatis suae, secundum operationem virtutis suae, qua etiam possit subiicere sibi omnia.
