Knowing Christ

3 In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice^(A) in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you.

² Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil^(B) workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision,^(C) the ones who worship by the Spirit^(D) of God, boast in Christ Jesus,^(E) and do not put confidence in the flesh— ⁴ although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day;^(F) of the nation of Israel,^(G) of the tribe of Benjamin,^(H) a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law,^(I) a Pharisee; ⁶ regarding zeal,^(J) persecuting^(K) the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law,^(L) blameless.^(M)

⁷ But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value^(N) of knowing Christ^(O) Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ^{(P) 9} and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law,^(Q) but one that is through faith in Christ^[a]—the righteousness from God based on faith.^{(R) 10} My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings,^(S) being conformed to his death,^{(T) 11} assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.