Philippians 3:4-17

King James Version

⁴Though 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:

⁵Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

⁶Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

⁸Yea 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,

⁹And 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:

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

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

¹²Not 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.

¹³Brethren, 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,

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

¹⁵Let 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.

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

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

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Philippians 3:4-17

New International Version

⁴though I myself have reasons for such confidence.^(A)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised^(B) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,^(C) of the tribe of Benjamin,^(D) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;^(E) ⁶as for zeal,^(F) persecuting the church;^(G) as for righteousness based on the law,^(H) faultless.

⁷But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss^(I) for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing^(J) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ^(K) ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,^(L) but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness^(M) that comes from God on the basis of faith.^(N) ¹⁰I want to know^(O) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,^(P) becoming like him in his death,^(Q) ¹¹and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection^(R) from the dead.

¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,^(S) but I press on to take hold^(T) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.^(U) ¹³Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(V) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on^(W) toward the goal to win the prize^(X) for which God has called^(Y) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵All of us, then, who are mature^(Z) should take such a view of things.^(AA) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.^(AB) ¹⁶Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷Join together in following my example,^(AC) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.^(AD)

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Footnotes

Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of

Philippians 3:4-17

English Standard Version

⁴^(A)though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵^(B)circumcised on the eighth day, ^(C)of the people of Israel, ^(D)of the tribe of Benjamin, ^(E)a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, ^(F)a Pharisee; ⁶^(G)as to zeal, ^(H)a persecutor of the church; ^(I)as to righteousness under the law,^[a] blameless. ⁷But ^(J)whatever gain I had, ^(K)I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸Indeed, I count everything as loss because of ^(L)the surpassing worth of ^(M)knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I ^(N)have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having ^(O)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but ^(P)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰^(Q)that I may know him and ^(R)the power of his resurrection, and ^(S)may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹that by any means possible I may ^(T)attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

¹²Not that I have already ^(U)obtained this or ^(V)am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: ^(W)forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for ^(X)the prize of the upward ^(Y)call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let those of us who are ^(Z)mature think this way, and if in anything ^(AA)you think otherwise, ^(AB)God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶Only ^(AC)let us hold true to what we have attained.

¹⁷Brothers, ^(AD)join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk ^(AE)according to the example you have in us.

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Footnotes

Philippians 3:6 Greek in the law

Philippians 3:4-17

Christian Standard Bible

⁴although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised the eighth day;^(A) of the nation of Israel,^(B) of the tribe of Benjamin,^(C) a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law,^(D) a Pharisee; ⁶regarding zeal,^(E) persecuting^(F) the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law,^(G) blameless.^(H)

⁷But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. ⁸More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value^(I) of knowing Christ^(J) 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^(K) ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law,^(L) but one that is through faith in Christ^[a]—the righteousness from God based on faith.^(M) ¹⁰My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings,^(N) being conformed to his death,^(O) ¹¹assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

Reaching Forward to God’s Goal

¹²Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold^(P) of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³Brothers and sisters, I do not^[b] consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(Q) and reaching forward to what is ahead, ¹⁴I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly^[c] call in Christ Jesus.^(R) ¹⁵Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal^(S) this also to you. ¹⁶In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. ¹⁷Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.

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Footnotes

3:9 Or through the faithfulness of Christ
3:13 Other mss read not yet
3:14 Or upward

Philippians 3:4-17

New American Standard Bible 1995

⁴although ^(A)I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: ⁵^(B)circumcised the eighth day, of the ^(C)nation of Israel, of the ^(D)tribe of Benjamin, a ^(E)Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, ^(F)a Pharisee; ⁶as to zeal, ^(G)a persecutor of the church; as to the ^(H)righteousness which is in the Law, found ^(I)blameless.

⁷But ^(J)whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸More than that, I count all things to be loss ^[a]in view of the surpassing value of ^[b]^(K)knowing ^(L)Christ Jesus my Lord, ^[c]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, ⁹and may be found in Him, not having ^(M)a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, ^(N)the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰that I may ^(O)know Him and ^(P)the power of His resurrection and ^[d]^(Q)the fellowship of His sufferings, being ^(R)conformed to His death; ¹¹^[e]in order that I may ^(S)attain to the resurrection from the dead.

¹²Not that I have already ^(T)obtained it or have already ^(U)become perfect, but I press on ^[f]so that I may ^(V)lay hold of that ^[g]for which also I ^(W)was laid hold of by ^(X)Christ Jesus. ¹³Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: ^(Y)forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I ^(Z)press on toward the goal for the prize of the ^(AA)upward call of God in ^(AB)Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let us therefore, as many as are ^[h]^(AC)perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a ^(AD)different attitude, ^(AE)God will reveal that also to you; ¹⁶however, let us keep ^[i]^(AF)living by that same standard to which we have attained.

¹⁷Brethren, ^(AG)join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the ^(AH)pattern you have in us.

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Footnotes

Philippians 3:8 Lit because of
Philippians 3:8 Lit the knowledge of
Philippians 3:8 Lit because of
Philippians 3:10 Or participation in
Philippians 3:11 Lit if somehow
Philippians 3:12 Lit if I may even
Philippians 3:12 Or because also
Philippians 3:15 Or mature
Philippians 3:16 Lit following in line

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Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

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Philippians 3:4-17

King James Version