The Goal of Life

Finally, my brothers and sisters, (A)rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Beware of the (B)dogs, beware of the (C)evil workers, beware of the [a]false circumcision; for (D)we are the true [b]circumcision, who (E)worship in the Spirit of God and take (F)pride in (G)Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh, although (H)I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: (I)circumcised the eighth day, of the (J)nation of Israel, of the (K)tribe of Benjamin, a (L)Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, (M)a Pharisee; as to zeal, (N)a persecutor of the church; as to the (O)righteousness which is in the Law, found (P)blameless.

But (Q)whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss [c]in view of the surpassing value of [d](R)knowing (S)Christ Jesus my Lord, [e]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having (T)a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, (U)the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may (V)know Him and (W)the power of His resurrection and [f](X)the fellowship of His sufferings, being (Y)conformed to His death; 11 if somehow I may (Z)attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already [g](AA)grasped it all or have already (AB)become perfect, but I press on if I may also (AC)take hold of that [h]for which I (AD)was even taken hold of by (AE)Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: (AF)forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I (AG)press on toward the goal for the prize of the (AH)upward call of God in (AI)Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are [i](AJ)mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a (AK)different attitude, (AL)God will reveal that to you as well; 16 however, let’s keep [j](AM)living by that same standard to which we have attained.

17 Brothers and sisters, (AN)join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the (AO)pattern you have in us. 18 For (AP)many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I (AQ)weep, that they are the enemies of (AR)the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their [k](AS)appetite, and whose (AT)glory is in their shame, who (AU)have their minds on earthly things. 20 For (AV)our [l]citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly (AW)wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will (AX)transform the body of our lowly condition into (AY)conformity with [m]His (AZ)glorious body, (BA)by the exertion of the power that He has even to (BB)subject all things to Himself.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:2 Lit mutilation; Gr katatome
  2. Philippians 3:3 Gr peritome
  3. Philippians 3:8 Lit because of
  4. Philippians 3:8 Lit the knowledge of
  5. Philippians 3:8 Lit because of
  6. Philippians 3:10 Or participation in
  7. Philippians 3:12 Or obtained
  8. Philippians 3:12 Or because also
  9. Philippians 3:15 Or perfect
  10. Philippians 3:16 Lit following in line
  11. Philippians 3:19 Lit belly
  12. Philippians 3:20 Lit commonwealth
  13. Philippians 3:21 Lit the body of His glory

No Confidence in the Flesh

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,(A) and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs,(B) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision,(C) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,(D) and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.(E)

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

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

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(W) but I press on to take hold(X) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(Y) 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(Z) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(AA) toward the goal to win the prize(AB) for which God has called(AC) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

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

17 Join together in following my example,(AG) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.(AH) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,(AI) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.(AJ) 19 Their destiny(AK) is destruction, their god is their stomach,(AL) and their glory is in their shame.(AM) Their mind is set on earthly things.(AN) 20 But our citizenship(AO) is in heaven.(AP) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,(AQ) 21 who, by the power(AR) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies(AS) so that they will be like his glorious body.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of

The Goal of Life

Finally, my [a]fellow believers, continue to rejoice and delight in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Look out for the [b]dogs [the Judaizers, the legalists], look out for the troublemakers, look out for the [c]false circumcision [those who claim circumcision is necessary for salvation]; for we [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, set apart for His purpose and] are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory and take pride and exult in Christ Jesus and place no confidence [in what we have or who we are] in the flesh— though I myself might have [some grounds for] confidence in the flesh [if I were pursuing salvation by works]. If anyone else thinks that he has reason to be confident in the flesh [that is, in his own efforts to achieve salvation], I have far more: circumcised when I was eight days old, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews [an exemplary Hebrew]; as to the [observance of the] Law, a Pharisee; as to my zeal [for Jewish tradition], a persecutor of the church; and as to righteousness [supposed right living] which [my fellow Jews believe] is in the Law, I proved myself blameless.

But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life]. But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; 11 [d]so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on [e]so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.(A) 13 [f]Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us stay true to what we have already attained.

17 Brothers and sisters, together follow my example and observe those who live by the pattern we gave you. 18 For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], 19 whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things. 20 But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious resurrected body.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:1 Lit brethren.
  2. Philippians 3:2 Jews often used “dogs” as a derogatory term to refer to Gentiles, so Paul’s reference to his Jewish opponents in this verse is ironic. Most dogs were untamed scavengers and considered disgusting because they ate anything.
  3. Philippians 3:2 Because circumcision was not necessary for salvation, the circumcision demanded by the Judaizers was nothing more than mutilation.
  4. Philippians 3:11 Lit if somehow.
  5. Philippians 3:12 Lit even if I may. Paul knew that he could not really reach perfection in this life, but his goal was to “press on” as if it were attainable.
  6. Philippians 3:13 Lit Brethren.

Exortação a guardar-se dos obreiros maus e a cultivar todos os frutos do Espírito

Resta, irmãos meus, que vos regozijeis no Senhor. Não me aborreço de escrever-vos as mesmas coisas, e é segurança para vós.

Guardai-vos dos cães, guardai-vos dos maus obreiros, guardai-vos da circuncisão! Porque a circuncisão somos nós, que servimos a Deus no Espírito, e nos gloriamos em Jesus Cristo, e não confiamos na carne. Ainda que também podia confiar na carne; se algum outro cuida que pode confiar na carne, ainda mais eu: circuncidado ao oitavo dia, da linhagem de Israel, da tribo de Benjamim, hebreu de hebreus; segundo a lei, fui fariseu, segundo o zelo, perseguidor da igreja; segundo a justiça que há na lei, irrepreensível. Mas o que para mim era ganho reputei-o perda por Cristo. E, na verdade, tenho também por perda todas as coisas, pela excelência do conhecimento de Cristo Jesus, meu Senhor; pelo qual sofri a perda de todas estas coisas e as considero como esterco, para que possa ganhar a Cristo e seja achado nele, não tendo a minha justiça que vem da lei, mas a que vem pela fé em Cristo, a saber, a justiça que vem de Deus, pela fé; 10 para conhecê-lo, e a virtude da sua ressurreição, e a comunicação de suas aflições, sendo feito conforme a sua morte; 11 para ver se, de alguma maneira, eu possa chegar à ressurreição dos mortos.

12 Não que já a tenha alcançado ou que seja perfeito; mas prossigo para alcançar aquilo para o que fui também preso por Cristo Jesus. 13 Irmãos, quanto a mim, não julgo que o haja alcançado; mas uma coisa faço, e é que, esquecendo-me das coisas que atrás ficam e avançando para as que estão diante de mim, 14 prossigo para o alvo, pelo prêmio da soberana vocação de Deus em Cristo Jesus. 15 Pelo que todos quantos somos perfeitos sintamos isto mesmo; e, se sentis alguma coisa doutra maneira, também Deus vo-lo revelará. 16 Mas, naquilo a que já chegamos, andemos segundo a mesma regra e sintamos o mesmo.

17 Sede também meus imitadores, irmãos, e tende cuidado, segundo o exemplo que tendes em nós, pelos que assim andam. 18 Porque muitos há, dos quais muitas vezes vos disse e agora também digo, chorando, que são inimigos da cruz de Cristo. 19 O fim deles é a perdição, o deus deles é o ventre, e a glória deles é para confusão deles mesmos, que pensam nas coisas terrenas. 20 Mas a nossa cidade está nos céus, donde também esperamos o Salvador, o Senhor Jesus Cristo, 21 que transformará o nosso corpo abatido, para ser conforme o seu corpo glorioso, segundo o seu eficaz poder de sujeitar também a si todas as coisas.

Plena Confiança em Cristo

Finalmente, meus irmãos, alegrem-se no Senhor! Escrever-lhes de novo as mesmas coisas não é cansativo para mim e é uma segurança para vocês.

Cuidado com os “cães”, cuidado com esses que praticam o mal, cuidado com a falsa circuncisão[a]! Pois nós é que somos a circuncisão, nós que adoramos pelo Espírito de Deus, que nos gloriamos em Cristo Jesus e não temos confiança alguma na carne, embora eu mesmo tivesse razões para ter tal confiança.

Se alguém pensa que tem razões para confiar na carne, eu ainda mais: circuncidado no oitavo dia de vida, pertencente ao povo de Israel, à tribo de Benjamim, verdadeiro hebreu; quanto à Lei, fariseu; quanto ao zelo, perseguidor da igreja; quanto à justiça que há na Lei, irrepreensível.

Mas o que para mim era lucro, passei a considerar como perda, por causa de Cristo. Mais do que isso, considero tudo como perda, comparado com a suprema grandeza do conhecimento de Cristo Jesus, meu Senhor, por quem perdi todas as coisas. Eu as considero como esterco para poder ganhar Cristo e ser encontrado nele, não tendo a minha própria justiça que procede da Lei, mas a que vem mediante a fé em Cristo, a justiça que procede de Deus e se baseia na fé. 10 Quero conhecer Cristo, o poder da sua ressurreição e a participação em seus sofrimentos, tornando-me como ele em sua morte 11 para, de alguma forma, alcançar a ressurreição dentre os mortos.

Prosseguindo para o Alvo

12 Não que eu já tenha obtido tudo isso ou tenha sido aperfeiçoado, mas prossigo para alcançá-lo, pois para isso também fui alcançado por Cristo Jesus. 13 Irmãos, não penso que eu mesmo já o tenha alcançado, mas uma coisa faço: esquecendo-me das coisas que ficaram para trás e avançando para as que estão adiante, 14 prossigo para o alvo, a fim de ganhar o prêmio do chamado celestial de Deus em Cristo Jesus.

15 Todos nós que alcançamos a maturidade devemos ver as coisas dessa forma, e, se em algum aspecto vocês pensam de modo diferente, isso também Deus lhes esclarecerá. 16 Tão-somente vivamos de acordo com o que já alcançamos.

17 Irmãos, sigam unidos o meu exemplo e observem os que vivem de acordo com o padrão que lhes apresentamos. 18 Pois, como já lhes disse repetidas vezes, e agora repito com lágrimas, há muitos que vivem como inimigos da cruz de Cristo. 19 O destino deles é a perdição, o seu deus é o estômago e eles têm orgulho do que é vergonhoso; só pensam nas coisas terrenas. 20 A nossa cidadania, porém, está nos céus, de onde esperamos ansiosamente o Salvador, o Senhor Jesus Cristo. 21 Pelo poder que o capacita a colocar todas as coisas debaixo do seu domínio, ele transformará os nossos corpos humilhados, tornando-os semelhantes ao seu corpo glorioso.

Footnotes

  1. 3.2 Grego: mutilação.