13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [a]apprehended; but one thing I do, (A)forgetting those things which are behind and (B)reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 (C)I press toward the goal for the prize of (D)the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are (E)mature, (F)have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, (G)God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already [b]attained, (H)let us walk (I)by the same [c]rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

17 Brethren, (J)join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as (K)you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are (L)the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 (M)whose end is destruction, (N)whose god is their belly, and (O)whose glory is in their shame—(P)who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For (Q)our citizenship is in heaven, (R)from which we also (S)eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (T)who will transform our lowly body that it may be (U)conformed to His glorious body, (V)according to the working by which He is able even to (W)subdue all things to Himself.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:13 laid hold of it
  2. Philippians 3:16 arrived
  3. Philippians 3:16 NU omits rule and the rest of v. 16.

13 My friends, I don't feel I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14 I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. 15 All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you. 16 But we must keep going in the direction that we are now headed.

17 (A) My friends, I want you to follow my example and learn from others who closely follow the example we set for you. 18 I often warned you that many people are living as enemies of the cross of Christ. And now with tears in my eyes, I warn you again 19 that they are headed for hell! They worship their stomachs and brag about the disgusting things they do. All they can think about are the things of this world.

20 But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ 21 (B) has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.

Read full chapter

13 Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. 14 The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. 15 So all of us who are spiritually mature should think this way, and if anyone thinks differently, God will reveal it to him or her. 16 Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached.

Imitate Paul

17 Brothers and sisters, become imitators of me and watch those who live this way—you can use us as models. 18 As I have told you many times and now say with deep sadness, many people live as enemies of the cross. 19 Their lives end with destruction. Their god is their stomach, and they take pride in their disgrace because their thoughts focus on earthly things. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven. We look forward to a savior that comes from there—the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform our humble bodies so that they are like his glorious body, by the power that also makes him able to subject all things to himself.

Read full chapter

13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.

15 All of us who are spiritually mature should think this way, too. And if there are things you do not agree with, God will make them clear to you. 16 But we should continue following the truth we already have.

17 Brothers and sisters, all of you should try to follow my example and to copy those who live the way we showed you. 18 Many people live like enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you about them, and it makes me cry to tell you about them now. 19 In the end, they will be destroyed. They do whatever their bodies want, they are proud of their shameful acts, and they think only about earthly things. 20 But our homeland is in heaven, and we are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. 21 By his power to rule all things, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body.

Read full chapter