Philippians 3:8-12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
8 More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ,(A) the righteousness from God, depending on faith 10 to know him and the power of his resurrection and [the] sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death,(B) 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.(C)
Forward in Christ.[a] 12 (D)It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity,[b] but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ [Jesus].
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 3:12–16 To be taken possession of by Christ does not mean that one has already arrived at perfect spiritual maturity. Paul and the Philippians instead press on, trusting in God.
- 3:12 Attained perfect maturity: possibly an echo of the concept in the mystery religions of being an initiate, admitted to divine secrets.
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