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17 Join with others in being imitators of me,[a] brothers, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.(A) 18 For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.(B) 19 Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things.(C) 20 But our citizenship[b] is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.(D) 21 He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.(E)

VI. Instructions for the Community[c]

Chapter 4

Live in Concord. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.(F)

Footnotes

  1. 3:17 Being imitators of me: not arrogance, but humble simplicity, since all his converts know that Paul is wholly dedicated to imitating Christ (1 Cor 11:1; cf. also Phil 4:9; 1 Thes 1:6; 2 Thes 3:7, 9; 1 Cor 4:6).
  2. 3:20 Citizenship: Christians constitute a colony of heaven, as Philippi was a colonia of Rome (Acts 16:12). The hope Paul expresses involves the final coming of Christ, not a status already attained, such as the opponents claim.
  3. 4:1–9 This series of ethical admonitions rests especially on the view of Christ and his coming (cf. Phil 4:5) in Phil 3:20–21. Paul’s instructions touch on unity within the congregation, joy, prayer, and the Christian outlook on life.

17 Brothers and sisters,[a] join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship[b] is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation[c] that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,[d] by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[e] whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:17 Gk Brothers
  2. Philippians 3:20 Or commonwealth
  3. Philippians 3:21 Or our humble bodies
  4. Philippians 3:21 Or his glorious body
  5. Philippians 4:1 Gk my brothers

17 (A)Keep on imitating me, my friends. Pay attention to those who follow the right example that we have set for you. 18 I have told you this many times before, and now I repeat it with tears: there are many whose lives make them enemies of Christ's death on the cross. 19 They are going to end up in hell, because their god is their bodily desires. They are proud of what they should be ashamed of, and they think only of things that belong to this world. 20 We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. 21 He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule.

Instructions

So then, my friends, how dear you are to me and how I miss you! How happy you make me, and how proud I am of you!—this, dear friends, is how you should stand firm in your life in the Lord.

17 Brothers and sisters, (A)join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the (B)pattern you have in us. 18 For (C)many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I (D)weep, that they are the enemies of (E)the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their [a](F)appetite, and whose (G)glory is in their shame, who (H)have their minds on earthly things. 20 For (I)our [b]citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly (J)wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will (K)transform the body of our lowly condition into (L)conformity with [c]His (M)glorious body, (N)by the exertion of the power that He has even to (O)subject all things to Himself.

Think of Excellence

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, [d]whom I (P)long to see, my joy and crown, (Q)stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:19 Lit belly
  2. Philippians 3:20 Lit commonwealth
  3. Philippians 3:21 Lit the body of His glory
  4. Philippians 4:1 Lit and longed for

17 Join together in following my example,(A) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.(B) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,(C) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.(D) 19 Their destiny(E) is destruction, their god is their stomach,(F) and their glory is in their shame.(G) Their mind is set on earthly things.(H) 20 But our citizenship(I) is in heaven.(J) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,(K) 21 who, by the power(L) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies(M) so that they will be like his glorious body.(N)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,(O) my joy and crown, stand firm(P) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!