Philippians 3:4-14

Contemporary English Version

⁴ although I could. Others may brag about themselves, but I have more reason to brag than anyone else. ^5 (A) I was circumcised when I was eight days old,^[a] and I am from the nation of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a true Hebrew. As a Pharisee, I strictly obeyed the Law of Moses. ^6 (B) And I was so eager I even made trouble for the church. I did everything the Law demands in order to please God.

⁷ But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. ⁸ Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ ⁹ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. ¹⁰ All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, ¹¹ so that somehow I also may be raised to life.

Running toward the Goal

¹² I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. ¹³ My friends, I don't feel I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. ¹⁴ I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.