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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of

I thought things like that were really something great. But now I consider them to be nothing because of Christ. Even more, I consider everything to be nothing compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. To know him is worth much more than anything else. Because of him I have lost everything. But I consider all of it to be garbage so I can know Christ better. I want to be joined to him. Being right with God does not come from my obeying the law. It comes because I believe in Christ. It comes from God because of faith. 10 I want to know Christ better. Yes, I want to know the power that raised him from the dead. I want to join him in his sufferings. I want to become like him by sharing in his death. 11 Then by God’s grace I will rise from the dead.

12 I have not yet received all these things. I have not yet reached my goal. Christ Jesus took hold of me so that I could reach that goal. So I keep pushing myself forward to reach it. 13 Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. 14 I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.

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But (A)whatever gain I had, (B)I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of (C)the surpassing worth of (D)knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I (E)have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having (F)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but (G)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 (H)that I may know him and (I)the power of his resurrection, and (J)may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may (K)attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already (L)obtained this or (M)am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: (N)forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for (O)the prize of the upward (P)call of God in Christ Jesus.

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

Yea 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,

And 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:

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

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

12 Not 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.

13 Brethren, 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,

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

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12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(A) with perseverance(B) the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,(C) the pioneer(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(E) scorning its shame,(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(G) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary(H) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.(I)

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12 A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us. Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. He made it through these attacks by sinners. So think about him. Then you won’t get tired. You won’t lose hope.

God Trains His Children

You struggle against sin. But you have not yet fought to the point of spilling your blood.

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Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and (A)sin which clings so closely, and (B)let us run (C)with endurance the race that is (D)set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, (E)who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising (F)the shame, and (G)is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

(H)Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or (I)fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

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12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

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12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.(A) 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[a](B) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.(C)

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone(D) and to be holy;(E) without holiness no one will see the Lord.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:13 Prov. 4:26

12 So put your hands to work. Strengthen your legs for the journey. 13 “Make level paths for your feet to walk on.” (Proverbs 4:26) Then those who have trouble walking won’t be disabled. Instead, they will be healed.

A Warning and an Appeal

14 Try your best to live in peace with everyone. Try hard to be holy. Without holiness no one will see the Lord.

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12 Therefore (A)lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and (B)make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint (C)but rather be healed. 14 (D)Strive for peace with everyone, and for the (E)holiness (F)without which no one will see the Lord.

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12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

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20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.(A) 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.(B)

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love(C) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord(D) out of a pure heart.(E) 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.(F) 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.(G) 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,(H) 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,(I) who has taken them captive to do his will.

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20 In a large house there are things made out of gold and silver. But there are also things made out of wood and clay. Some have special purposes. Others have common purposes. 21 Suppose someone stays away from what is common. Then the Master will be able to use them for special purposes. They will be made holy. They will be ready to do any good work.

22 Run away from the evil things that young people long for. Try hard to do what is right. Have faith, love and peace. Do these things together with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with arguing. It is dumb and foolish. You know it only leads to fights. 24 Anyone who serves the Lord must not be hard to get along with. Instead, they must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach. The one who serves must not hold anything against anyone. 25 They must gently teach those who are against them. Maybe God will give a change of heart to those who are against you. That will lead them to know the truth. 26 Maybe they will come to their senses. Maybe they will escape the devil’s trap. He has taken them as prisoners to do what he wanted.

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20 Now in (A)a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, (B)some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, (C)if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[a] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, (D)ready for every good work.

22 So (E)flee (F)youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with (G)those who call on the Lord (H)from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant (I)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And (J)the Lord's servant[b] must not be quarrelsome but (K)kind to everyone, (L)able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents (M)with gentleness. God (N)may perhaps grant them repentance (O)leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from (P)the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 2:21 Greek from these things
  2. 2 Timothy 2:24 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

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