Philippians 3:1-21
3 Finally, my brothers, continue rejoicing in [the] Lord.+ To be writing the same things to YOU is not troublesome for me, but it is of safety to YOU.
2 Look out for the dogs,+ look out for the workers of injury, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.*+
3 For we are those with the real circumcision,*+ who are rendering sacred service* by God’s spirit+ and have our boasting in Christ Jesus+ and do not have our confidence in the flesh,+
4 though I, if anyone, do have grounds for confidence also in the flesh.
If any other man thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I the more so:+
5 circumcised the eighth day,+ out of the family stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,+ a Hebrew [born] from Hebrews;+ as respects law, a Pharisee;+
6 as respects zeal, persecuting the congregation;+ as respects righteousness that is by means of law, one who proved himself blameless.
7 Yet what things were gains to me, these I have considered loss on account of the Christ.+
8 Why, for that matter, I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.+ On account of him I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse,+ that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in union with him, having, not my own righteousness, which results from law,+ but that which is through faith+ in Christ, the righteousness that issues from God on the basis of faith,+
10 so as to know him and the power of his resurrection+ and a sharing in his sufferings,+ submitting myself to a death like his,+
11 [to see] if I may by any means attain to the earlier resurrection*+ from the dead.
12 Not that I have already received it or am already made perfect,+ but I am pursuing+ to see if I may also lay hold+ on that for which I have also been laid hold+ on by Christ Jesus.*
13 Brothers, I do not yet consider myself as having laid hold on [it]; but there is one thing about it: Forgetting the things behind+ and stretching forward to the things ahead,+
14 I am pursuing down toward the goal+ for the prize*+ of the upward call+ of God by means of Christ Jesus.
15 Let us, then, as many of us as are mature,+ be of this mental attitude;+ and if YOU are mentally inclined otherwise in any respect, God will reveal the above [attitude] to YOU.
16 At any rate, to what extent we have made progress, let us go on walking orderly+ in this same routine.*
17 Unitedly become imitators+ of me, brothers, and keep YOUR eye on those who are walking in a way that accords with the example YOU have in us.+
18 For there are many, I used to mention them often but now I mention them also with weeping, who are walking as the enemies of the torture stake* of the Christ,+
19 and their finish* is destruction,+ and their god is their belly,+ and their glory consists in their shame,+ and they have their minds upon things on the earth.+
20 As for us, our citizenship*+ exists in the heavens,+ from which place also we are eagerly waiting+ for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,+
21 who will refashion our humiliated body*+ to be conformed to his glorious body*+ according to the operation+ of the power that he has, even to subject+ all things to himself.
Footnotes
^ “Those who mutilate the flesh.” Or, “the incision.” Lit., “the cutting down.”
^ Lit., “we are the circumcision.”
^ “Rendering sacred service.” Gr., la·treuʹon·tes; J17(Heb.), ha·ʽo·vedhimʹ, “who serve (worship).” See Ex 3:12 ftn.
^ “Earlier resurrection.” Lit., “out-resurrection.” Gr., e·xa·naʹsta·sin.
^ “Jesus,” P46אAVg; BD omit.
^ Lit., “into the prize.”
^ Lit., “to the same walking in line.”
^ See App 5C.
^ Or, “end; accomplished end.” Gr., teʹlos.
^ Or, “our life as citizens.”
^ Lit., “the body of our lowliness.”
^ Lit., “the body of his glory.”
