¹⁵ The day after sailing from there we arrived off Chios. And the next day we crossed over to Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the following day we came to Miletus. ¹⁶ Paul had decided to sail by Ephesus, to avoid spending time in Asia. For he was hurrying so he could be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

¹⁷ From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. ¹⁸ When they came to him, he said to them, “You know how I always lived among you from the first day that I came to Asia, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility and with many tears and trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ I did not keep from declaring what was beneficial to you, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, ²¹ testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

²² “Now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what shall befall me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. ²⁴ But none of these things deter me. Nor do I count my life of value to myself, so that I may joyfully finish my course and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵ “Now I know that all you, among whom I went proclaiming the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I did not keep from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

The True Righteousness

3 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. ² Watch out for dogs, watch out for evil workers, watch out for those who practice mutilation. ³ For we are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, and boast in Christ Jesus, and place no trust in the flesh, ⁴ 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: ⁵ 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; ⁶ concerning zeal, persecuting the church; and concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷ But what things were gain to me, I have counted these things to be loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ 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, ⁹ 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.

4 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. ³ For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but they will gather to themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, having itching ears, ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn to myths. ⁵ But be self-controlled in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and prove your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith. ⁸ From now on a crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.