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ג אחים יקרים, יקרה אשר יקרה, שמחו תמיד באדוננו! אף פעם לא אחדל להזכיר לכם, וטוב שתשמעו זאת פעמים רבות.

היזהרו מהאנשים הרשעים – אני קורא להם "כלבים מסוכנים" - שטוענים שאם ברצונכם להיוושע עליכם לקיים ברית-מילה. הרי חיתוך בשרנו לא עושה אותנו בני-אלוהים; המילה האמיתית היא לאהוב את אלוהים ולשרתו בלב ונפש. אנחנו, המאמינים, מתפארים במה שהמשיח עשה למעננו, ואנו יודעים שאיננו מסוגלים להושיע את עצמנו.

אם למישהו הייתה סיבה לקוות שיוכל להושיע את עצמו – לי הייתה סיבה כזאת. אילו אפשר היה להיוושע על-ידי מעשים, הייתי נימנה עם הנושעים. הרי נולדתי למשפחה יהודית טהורה משבט בנימין, עברתי מילה בהיותי בן שמונה ימים, כך שהייתי יהודי יהודי! הייתי חבר בכת הפרושית, אשר דרשה קיום קפדני של כל מצוות התורה וכל המנהגים היהודיים. האם הייתי קנאי? כן, הייתי קנאי כל-כך עד שרדפתי את הקהילה המשיחית; והשתדלתי לקיים את כל המצוות, החוקים והמנהגים היהודיים עד לפרט הקטן ביותר.

אך עתה השלכתי הצידה את כל הדברים שפעם הגזמתי בהערכתם ובחשיבותם, כדי שאוכל לקוות ולבטוח רק במשיח. אכן, בהשוואה ליתרון היקר והחשוב שבהכרת המשיח, כל דבר אחר הוא חסר חשיבות. ויתרתי על הכול, כי לעומת המשיח הכול נראה חסר ערך. עשיתי זאת למען המשיח, כדי שיחיה בי ואני בו, ולא חשבתי יותר שביכולתי להושיע את עצמי על-ידי מעשים טובים או על-ידי קיום מצוות התורה. אלוהים מצדיק אותנו בזכות אמונתנו בישוע המשיח, ולכן עלינו לבטוח במשיח ולהאמין שהוא זה שמושיע אותנו. 10 ויתרתי על הכול, כי נוכחתי לדעת שזוהי הדרך היחידה להכיר את המשיח, להתנסות בכוחו האדיר אשר הקימו מן המתים, ולגלות בעצמי את משמעות הסבל והמוות עם המשיח. 11 כל זה בתקווה להיות בין אלה שהמשיח יקים לתחייה מן המתים.

12 איני מנסה לרמוז שאני מושלם. טרם למדתי את כל אשר עלי ללמוד, אך אני חותר לקראת היום שבו אהיה מה שהמשיח רצה שאהיה כאשר הושיע אותי. 13 עדיין לא הגעתי לשלמות הזאת, אך אני אוזר את מיטב כוחותיי למען מטרה אחת: לשכוח את העבר ולהביט בציפייה ובתקווה אל העתיד. 14 אני מתאמץ להגיע אל סוף המרוץ, כדי לקבל את הפרס שלמענו קורא לנו אלוהים השמימה, בזכות מה שעשה ישוע המשיח למעננו.

15 אני מקווה שגם אתם, המבוגרים יותר באמונה, שואפים לאותה מטרה. אם אינכם מסכימים איתי בכמה דברים, אני מאמין שאלוהים יבהיר לכם אותם – 16 בתנאי שתצייתו לקול אלוהים שבקרבכם.

17 אחים יקרים, קחו דוגמה מדרך החיים שלי ושל כל אלה שחיים כמוני. 18 כבר אמרתי לכם פעמים רבות, ואני שוב אומר לכם כשדמעות בעיני: אנשים רבים נותנים את הרושם כאילו הם הולכים בדרך המשיחית, בעוד שלמעשה הם אויבי המשיח! 19 אנשים אלה נועדו לאבדון! שכן אלוהיהם הוא תאבונם. הם מתגאים במה שעליהם להתבייש, וחושבים על חיי העולם הזה בלבד. 20 ואילו אנחנו אזרחי השמים, ומשם אנו מצפים לשובו של המשיח ישוע. 21 כשהמשיח יחזור אלינו, הוא ישנה את גופנו המת לגוף מפואר והדור כגופו, על-ידי אותו כוח אדיר שבו ינצח את הכול.

لا تعتمد على أمور الجسد

وَبَعْدُ، يَا إِخْوَتِي، افْرَحُوا فِي الرَّبِّ. لَا يُزْعِجُنِي أَنْ أَكْتُبَ إِلَيْكُمْ بِالأُمُورِ نَفْسِهَا، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يَجْعَلُكُمْ فِي مَأْمَنٍ. خُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ مِنَ «الْكِلابِ»، مِنَ عُمَّالِ الشَّرِ، مِنْ الَّذِينَ يَبْتُرُونَ الْجَسَدَ. فَإِنَّنَا نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الْخِتَانِ الْحَقِّ، لأَنَّنَا إِنَّمَا نَعْبُدُ بِرُوحِ اللهِ وَنَفْتَخِرُ فِي الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ، وَلا نَعْتَمِدُ عَلَى أُمُورِ الْجَسَدِ، مَعَ أَنَّ مِنْ حَقِّي أَنَا أَيْضاً أَنْ أَعْتَمِدَ عَلَيْهَا. فَإِنْ خَطَرَ عَلَى بَالِ أَحَدٍ أَنْ يَعْتَمِدَ عَلَى أُمُورِ الْجَسَدِ، فَأَنَا أَحَقُّ مِنْهُ: فَمِنْ جِهَةِ الْخِتَانِ، مَخْتُونٌ فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّامِنِ مِنْ عُمْرِي؛ وَأَنَا مِنْ جِنْسِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، مِنْ سِبْطِ بِنْيَامِينَ، عِبْرَانِيٌّ مِنَ الْعِبْرَانِيِّينَ؛ وَمِنْ جِهَةِ الشَّرِيعَةِ، أَنَا فَرِّيسِيٌّ؛ وَمِنْ جِهَةِ الْحَمَاسَةِ، مُضْطَهِدٌ لِلْكَنِيسَةِ؛ وَمِنْ جِهَةِ الْبِرِّ الْمَطْلُوبِ فِي الشَّرِيعَةِ، كُنْتُ بِلا لَوْمٍ. وَلَكِنْ، مَا كَانَ لِي مِنْ رِبْحٍ، فَقَدِ اعْتَبَرْتُهُ خَسَارَةً، مِنْ أَجْلِ الْمَسِيحِ. بَلْ إِنِّي أَعْتَبِرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَسَارَةً، مِنْ أَجْلِ امْتِيَازِ مَعْرِفَةِ الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ رَبِّي؛ فَمِنْ أَجْلِهِ تَحَمَّلْتُ خَسَارَةَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَأَعْتَبِرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ نُفَايَةً، لِكَيْ أَرْبَحَ الْمَسِيحَ وَيَكُونَ لِي فِيهِ مَقَامٌ، إِذْ لَيْسَ لِي بِرِّي الذَّاتِيُّ الْقَائِمُ عَلَى أَسَاسِ الشَّرِيعَةِ، بَلِ الْبِرُّ الآتِي مِنَ الإِيمَانِ بِالْمَسِيحِ، الْبِرُّ الَّذِي مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ عَلَى أَسَاسِ الإِيمَانِ. 10 وَغَايَتِي أَنْ أَعْرِفَ الْمَسِيحَ وَقُوَّةَ قِيَامَتِهِ وَالشَّرِكَةَ فِي آلامِهِ؛ وَالتَّشَبُّهَ بِهِ فِي مَوْتِهِ، 11 عَلَى رَجَاءِ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ بَيْنِ الأَمْوَاتِ!

12 لَسْتُ أَدَّعِي أَنِّي قَدْ نِلْتُ الْجَائِزَةَ أَوْ بَلَغْتُ الكَمَالَ. وَلَكِنِّي مَاأَزَالُ أَسْعَى لِاقْتِنَائِهَا، كَمَا أَنَّ الْمَسِيحَ يَسُوعَ قَدِ اقْتَنَانِي. 13 أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَةُ، أَنَا لَا أَعْتَبِرُ نَفْسِي قَدِ نِلْتُ الْجَائِزَةَ، وَلَكِنِّي أَفْعَلُ أَمْراً وَاحِداً: أَنْسَى مَا هُوَ وَرَاءُ وَأَتَقَدَّمُ إِلَى مَا هُوَ أَمَامُ، 14 إِذْ أَسْعَى إِلَى الْهَدَفِ، لِنَوَالِ تِلْكَ الْجَائِزَةِ الَّتِي يَدْعُونَا اللهُ إِلَيْهَا دَعْوَةً عُلْيَا فِي الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ.

اتباع مثال بولس

15 جَمِيعُ الْبَالِغِينَ فِينَا، لِيَكُنْ فِيهِمْ هَذَا الْفِكْرُ. وَإِنْ كَانَ فِيكُمْ غَيْرُ هَذَا الْفِكْرِ، فَذَلِكَ أَيْضاً سَيَكْشِفُهُ لَكُمُ اللهُ. 16 إِنَّمَا، لِنُواصِلِ السَّيْرَ مِنْ حَيْثُ قَدْ وَصَلْنَا، فِي الْمَنْهَجِ نَفْسِهِ.

17 كُونُوا جَمِيعاً، أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَةُ، مُقْتَدِينَ بِي؛ وَلاحِظُوا الَّذِينَ يَسْلُكُونَ بِحَسَبِ الْقُدْوَةِ الَّتِي تَرَوْنَهَا فِينَا. 18 فَإِنَّ كَثِيرِينَ مِمَّنَ يَسْلُكُونَ بَيْنَكُمْ، وَقَدْ ذَكَرْتُهُمْ لَكُمْ مِرَاراً وَأَذْكُرُهُمُ الآنَ أَيْضاً بَاكِياً، إِنَّمَا هُمْ أَعْدَاءُ لِصَلِيبِ الْمَسِيحِ. 19 الَّذِينَ مَصِيرُهُمُ الْهَلاكُ، وَإِلهُهُمْ بُطُونُهُمْ، وَفَخْرُهُمْ فِي خِزْيِهِمْ، وَفِكْرُهُمْ مُنْصَرِفٌ إِلَى الأُمُورِ الأَرْضِيَّةِ. 20 أَمَّا نَحْنُ، فَإِنَّ وَطَنَنَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ الَّتِي مِنْهَا نَنْتَظِرُ عَوْدَةَ مُخَلِّصِنَا الرَّبِّ يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، 21 الَّذِي سَيُحَوِّلُ جَسَدَنَا الْوَضِيعَ إِلَى صُورَةٍ مُطَابِقَةٍ لِجَسَدِهِ الْمَجِيدِ، وَفْقاً لِعَمَلِ قُدْرَتِهِ عَلَى إِخْضَاعِ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ لِنَفْسِهِ.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but 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 but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

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:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

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

All for Christ

Finally, my brethren, (A)rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

(B)Beware of dogs, beware of (C)evil workers, (D)beware of the mutilation! For we are (E)the circumcision, (F)who worship [a]God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though (G)I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I (H)more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, (I)of the tribe of Benjamin, (J)a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, (K)a Pharisee; concerning zeal, (L)persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But (M)what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss (N)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 (O)my own righteousness, which is from the law, but (P)that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the (Q)power of His resurrection, and (R)the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may (S)attain[b] to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already (T)attained,[c] or am already (U)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 [d]apprehended; but one thing I do, (V)forgetting those things which are behind and (W)reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 (X)I press toward the goal for the prize of (Y)the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are (Z)mature, (AA)have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, (AB)God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already [e]attained, (AC)let us walk (AD)by the same [f]rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

17 Brethren, (AE)join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as (AF)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 (AG)the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 (AH)whose end is destruction, (AI)whose god is their belly, and (AJ)whose glory is in their shame—(AK)who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For (AL)our citizenship is in heaven, (AM)from which we also (AN)eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (AO)who will transform our lowly body that it may be (AP)conformed to His glorious body, (AQ)according to the working by which He is able even to (AR)subdue all things to Himself.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:3 NU, M in the Spirit of God
  2. Philippians 3:11 Lit. arrive at
  3. Philippians 3:12 obtained it
  4. Philippians 3:13 laid hold of it
  5. Philippians 3:16 arrived
  6. Philippians 3:16 NU omits rule and the rest of v. 16.