认识基督

此外,我的弟兄们,你们要在主里欢喜。

我把同样的话写给你们,一方面对我不是麻烦,另一方面对你们是一种保护。

你们要当心那些犬类,当心那些作恶的工人,当心那些妄割身体的人。 实际上,我们才是受过割礼的人,就是藉着神的灵事奉,在基督耶稣里夸耀,不依靠肉体的人。 其实我也可以依靠肉体;如果另外有人自以为可以依靠肉体,我就更可以了。 我出生[a]第八天受了割礼;我属于以色列族、便雅悯支派,是希伯来人所生的希伯来人;按照律法说,我是法利赛人; 按照热心说,我曾经逼迫教会;按照律法上的义说,我是无可指责的。

然而,以前对我有益的事,现在因基督的缘故,我已经把这些事看做是损失。 不但如此,我甚至把一切都看做是损失,因为我把认识我主基督耶稣看为是至高无上的。我为基督耶稣损失了一切,而且把一切都看做是粪土,为要赢得基督, 并且要被认定在他里面——不是拥有那本于律法的自己的义,而是拥有那藉着信基督而来的义,就是来自神、基于信的义; 10 并且为要认识基督和他复活的大能,要在他的苦难里相契合[b],效法他的死, 11 或许我能得以从死人中复活。

向着目标直跑

12 这并不是说我已经得到了,或已经得以完全了,而是说我在竭力追求,或许我真的可以得着[c];为此我也被基督耶稣得着[d]了。 13 弟兄们,我不认为自己已经得着[e]了;但是我有一件事:就是忘记背后,争取前面的, 14 向着目标竭力追求,为了得到[f]那在基督耶稣里、神至高召唤的奖赏。 15 因此,让我们所有成熟的人[g]都这样思想。如果你们有什么不同的思想,神也会把这事启示给你们。 16 不过我们达到了什么标准[h],就让我们照着什么标准行走[i] 17 弟兄们,你们要一同效法我,也要留心看那些像你们一样,以我们为榜样行事的人。 18 其实我过去再三地告诉你们,而现在又流着眼泪告诉你们:有许多人的行事为人,是基督十字架的仇敌。 19 他们的结局就是灭亡[j];他们的神就是自己的私欲[k];他们的荣耀在自己的羞耻之中;他们所思想的都是地上的事。 20 然而,我们的国籍在天上;我们也热切等待着救主——主耶稣基督从那里降临。 21 他将照着那能使万有都服从他的力量,改变我们这卑贱的身体,要[l]与他那荣耀的身体相似。

Footnotes

  1. 腓立比书 3:5 我出生——辅助词语。
  2. 腓立比书 3:10 相契合——或译作“沟通”或“分享”。
  3. 腓立比书 3:12 得着——原文直译“抓住”。
  4. 腓立比书 3:12 得着——原文直译“抓住”。
  5. 腓立比书 3:13 得着——原文直译“抓住”。
  6. 腓立比书 3:14 得到——辅助词语。
  7. 腓立比书 3:15 成熟的人——或译作“完全的人”。
  8. 腓立比书 3:16 有古抄本没有“标准”。
  9. 腓立比书 3:16 有古抄本附“照着什么思想行走”。
  10. 腓立比书 3:19 灭亡——或译作“沉沦”。
  11. 腓立比书 3:19 私欲——原文直译“肚腹”。
  12. 腓立比书 3:21 有古抄本附“使它成为”。

認識基督最寶貴

弟兄姊妹,你們要靠主喜樂!我再把這些事寫給你們,對我來說並不麻煩,對你們卻有好處。 你們要提防那些犬類,那些作惡的人,那些鼓吹必須受割禮[a]才能得救的人。 因為真正受割禮的人是我們這些靠著上帝的靈敬拜、以基督耶穌為榮、不倚靠自身條件的人。 其實我也可以靠自身的條件。如果別人覺得可以靠自身的條件,我更可以。 我出生後第八天就受了割禮,我是以色列人,屬於便雅憫支派,是道道地地的希伯來人。論守律法,我是法利賽人; 論熱心,我曾經迫害教會;論律法要求的義,我是無可指責的。 但是為了基督,我從前以為有價值的,現在認為毫無價值。 不但如此,我看萬事都毫無價值,因為認識我主基督耶穌最寶貴。我為祂失去了一切,我把失去的一切視為垃圾,好得到基督, 與祂聯合。我成為義人不是因為遵行律法,而是因為信靠基督。這義從上帝而來,以信為基礎。 10 我渴望認識基督和祂復活的大能,與祂一同受苦,甚至到死的地步[b] 11 這樣我無論如何都可以從死裡復活。

直奔標竿

12 這並不是說我已經得到了或者純全了,我還要竭力追求,或者可以達到基督耶穌要我達到的目標。 13 弟兄姊妹,我並非以為自己已經得到了,我只專注一件事,就是忘記背後,努力向前, 14 直奔目標,要贏得上帝藉著基督耶穌從天上呼召我去得的獎賞。 15 我們中間成熟的基督徒都應該有這樣的看法。即使你們在什麼事上看法不同,上帝也必讓你們明白。 16 然而,我們長進到什麼程度,就照著什麼程度去行。

17 弟兄姊妹,你們要一同效法我,也要向那些以我們為榜樣的人學習。 18 我已經多次告訴你們,現在又流著淚提醒你們:有許多人行事為人與基督的十字架為敵。 19 他們的神就是自己的肚腹,他們以自己的羞恥為榮,只想著地上的事,他們的結局是滅亡。 20 我們卻是天上的國民,殷切等候從天降臨的救主,就是主耶穌基督。 21 那時,祂要以降服萬物的大能將我們這卑賤的軀體改變成像祂那樣榮耀的身體。

Footnotes

  1. 3·2 割禮」參見創世記17章;希臘文用誇張的字眼描述割禮,有諷刺之意。
  2. 3·10 甚至到死的地步」或譯「效法祂的死」。

The True Righteousness

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me, and it is reassuring for you. Watch out for dogs, watch out for evil workers, watch out for those who practice mutilation. For we are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, and boast in Christ Jesus, and place no trust in the flesh, though I also have confidence in the flesh.

If any other man thinks that he has reason to trust in the flesh, I have more: I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and a Hebrew of Hebrews; as concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; and concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But what things were gain to me, I have counted these things to be loss for the sake of Christ. Yes, certainly, I count everything as loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have forfeited the loss of all things and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ,[a] the righteousness which is of God on the basis of faith, 10 to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if somehow I might make it to the resurrection of the dead.

Pressing Toward the Mark

12 Not that I have already attained or have already been perfected, but I follow after it so that I may lay hold of that for which I was seized by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not count myself to have attained, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let those of us who are mature be thus minded. And if you think differently in any way, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, according to what we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

17 Brothers, become fellow imitators with me and observe those who walk according to our example. 18 For many are walking in such a way that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. I have told you of them often and tell you again, even weeping. 19 Their destination is destruction, their god is their appetite, their glory is in their shame, their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our body of humiliation, so that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working of His power even to subdue all things to Himself.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faith of Christ.

No Confidence in the Flesh

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,(A) and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs,(B) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision,(C) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,(D) and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.(E)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised(F) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,(G) of the tribe of Benjamin,(H) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;(I) as for zeal,(J) persecuting the church;(K) as for righteousness based on the law,(L) faultless.

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

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(W) but I press on to take hold(X) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(Y) 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(Z) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(AA) toward the goal to win the prize(AB) for which God has called(AC) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature(AD) should take such a view of things.(AE) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.(AF) 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example,(AG) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.(AH) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,(AI) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.(AJ) 19 Their destiny(AK) is destruction, their god is their stomach,(AL) and their glory is in their shame.(AM) Their mind is set on earthly things.(AN) 20 But our citizenship(AO) is in heaven.(AP) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,(AQ) 21 who, by the power(AR) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies(AS) so that they will be like his glorious body.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of