< Philippians 3 >
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
Finally, my brothers, continue to rejoice in the Lord. To write the same thing is not indeed wearisome to me, and it is safe for you.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.
Beware of "these dogs," these mischievous workers, beware of the concision!
3 For we are the true 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, who worship God in the spirit, and make our boast in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in outward rites,
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath reason to trust in the flesh, I more:
although I myself might have confidence in outward rites. If any one else claims a right to trust in them, far more may I;
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; with respect to the law, a Pharisee;
circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from the Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; with respect to the righteousness which is by the law, blameless.
as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which comes through law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
But what was once gain to me, that I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them to be dung, that I may win Christ,
In very truth I count all things but loss compared to the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and esteem them but refuse that I may gain Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:
and be found in him; not having my own righteousness of the Law, but that alone which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which comes from God, founded upon faith.
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death;
I long to know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, by sharing the likeness of his death;
11 If by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.
if by any means I might attain to the resurrection from the dead!
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I press on, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended by Christ Jesus.
I do not say that I have already won, or am already perfect, but I am passing on to lay hold on the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are before,
Brothers, I do not regard myself to have yet laid hold of it; but this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind me, but straining every nerve toward that which lies ahead,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
I am ever pressing on toward the goal, for the prize of God’s heavenward call in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye are otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you.
Let us all then, who are mature Christians, strive for this! God will make this clear to any of you who are striving for other goals;
16 Nevertheless, to what we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
if only we guide our steps by the standards we have already attained.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them who walk even as ye have us for an example.
Brothers, be comrades in imitating me, and study those whose life and walk is according to the pattern I have set you.
18 ( 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:
For there are many - as I used often to tell you, and am now telling you even with tears - who live and walk as the enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Their end is destruction, their belly is their god, their glory is in their shame, and their minds are set on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven; from which also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
But commonwealth is in heaven; and it is from heaven also that we are anxiously awaiting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 Who shall change our lowly body, that it may be fashioned like his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself.
who will change the fashion of the body of our abasement into the likeness of his glorious body by the energy with which he is able even to subject all things to himself.