But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss(A) for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing(B) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ(C) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,(D) but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness(E) that comes from God on the basis of faith.(F) 10 I want to know(G) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,(H) becoming like him in his death,(I) 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection(J) from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(K) but I press on to take hold(L) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(M) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(N) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(O) toward the goal to win the prize(P) for which God has called(Q) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of

But (A)what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss (B)for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having (C)my own righteousness, which is from the law, but (D)that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the (E)power of His resurrection, and (F)the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may (G)attain[a] to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already (H)attained,[b] or am already (I)perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [c]apprehended; but one thing I do, (J)forgetting those things which are behind and (K)reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 (L)I press toward the goal for the prize of (M)the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:11 Lit. arrive at
  2. Philippians 3:12 obtained it
  3. Philippians 3:13 laid hold of it

But (A)whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss [a]in view of the surpassing value of [b](B)knowing (C)Christ Jesus my Lord, [c]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having (D)a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, (E)the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may (F)know Him and (G)the power of His resurrection and [d](H)the fellowship of His sufferings, being (I)conformed to His death; 11 if somehow I may (J)attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already [e](K)grasped it all or have already (L)become perfect, but I press on if I may also (M)take hold of that [f]for which I (N)was even taken hold of by (O)Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: (P)forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I (Q)press on toward the goal for the prize of the (R)upward call of God in (S)Christ Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:8 Lit because of
  2. Philippians 3:8 Lit the knowledge of
  3. Philippians 3:8 Lit because of
  4. Philippians 3:10 Or participation in
  5. Philippians 3:12 Or obtained
  6. Philippians 3:12 Or because also

7-9 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

10-11 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

Focused on the Goal

12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

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