3 For the rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety.

² Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

³ For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances—

⁴ Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more!

⁵ Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees,

⁶ As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law’s standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me.

⁷ But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [^[a]one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.

⁸ Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

⁹ And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

¹⁰ [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [^[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

¹¹ That if possible I may attain to the [^[c]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

¹² Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.

¹³ I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

¹⁵ So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.

¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.

¹⁷ Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you.

¹⁸ For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed One).

¹⁹ They are doomed and their ^[d]fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, ^[e]siding with earthly things and being of their party.

²⁰ But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we ^[f]earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,

²¹ Who will ^[g]transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.

4 Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and yearn to see, my delight and crown (wreath of victory), thus stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

² I entreat and advise Euodia and I entreat and advise Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord.

³ And I exhort you too, [my] genuine yokefellow, help these [two women to keep on cooperating], for they have toiled along with me in [the spreading of] the good news (the Gospel), as have Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!^(A)

⁵ Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is ^[h]coming soon].

⁶ Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (^[i]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

⁷ And God’s peace [shall be yours, that ^[j]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall ^[k]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

⁹ Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of ^[l]untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

¹⁰ I was made very happy in the Lord that now you have revived your interest in my welfare after so long a time; you were indeed thinking of me, but you had no opportunity to show it.

¹¹ Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be ^[m] content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.

¹² I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

¹³ I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who ^[n]infuses inner strength into me; I am ^[o]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

¹⁴ But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me.

¹⁵ And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only.

¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.

¹⁷ Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].

¹⁸ But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.

¹⁹ And my God will liberally supply (^[p]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever (through the endless eternities of the eternities). Amen (so be it).

²¹ Remember me to every saint (every born-again believer) in Christ Jesus. The brethren (my ^[q]associates) who are with me greet you.

²² All the saints (God’s consecrated ones here) wish to be remembered to you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

²³ The grace (spiritual favor and blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) be with your spirit. Amen (so be it).

1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother,

² To the saints (the consecrated people of God) and ^[a]believing and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace (spiritual favor and blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father.

³ We ^[b]continually give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), as we are praying for you,

⁴ For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [^[c]the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God’s consecrated ones),

⁵ Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up (^[d]reserved and waiting) for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel,

⁶ Which has come to you. Indeed, in the whole world [that Gospel] is bearing fruit and still is growing ^[e][by its own inherent power], even as it has done among yourselves ever since the day you first heard and came to know and understand the grace of God in truth. [You came to know the grace or undeserved favor of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with it.]

⁷ You so learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ in our stead and as our representative and ^[f]yours.

⁸ Also he has informed us of your love in the [Holy] Spirit.

⁹ For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [^[g]special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the ^[h]full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [^[i]in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things—

¹⁰ That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and ^[j]desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, ^[k]acquaintance, and recognition].

¹¹ [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,

¹² Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the ^[l]portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

¹³ [The Father] has delivered and ^[m]drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son ^[n]of His love,

¹⁴ In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

¹⁵ [Now] He is the ^[o]exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation.

¹⁶ For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.

¹⁷ And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).^(A)

¹⁸ He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent].

¹⁹ For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him ^[p]permanently.

²⁰ And God purposed that through (^[q]by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled ^[r]back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

²¹ And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities,

²² Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence.

²³ [And this He will do] provided that you continue to ^[s]stay with and in the faith [in Christ], well-grounded and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which has been preached ^[t][as being designed for and offered without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, became a minister.

²⁴ [Even] now I rejoice in ^[u]the midst of my sufferings on your behalf. And in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed [^[v]on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church.

²⁵ In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine ^[w]stewardship which was entrusted to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to make the Word of God fully known [among you]—

²⁶ The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [^[x]from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints),

²⁷ To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.

²⁸ Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (^[y]comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).

²⁹ For this I labor [^[z]unto weariness], striving with all the ^[aa]superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.

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