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 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

認識基督最寶貴

弟兄姊妹,你們要靠主喜樂!我再把這些事寫給你們,對我來說並不麻煩,對你們卻有好處。 你們要提防那些犬類,那些作惡的人,那些鼓吹必須受割禮[a]才能得救的人。 因為真正受割禮的人是我們這些靠著上帝的靈敬拜、以基督耶穌為榮、不倚靠自身條件的人。 其實我也可以靠自身的條件。如果別人覺得可以靠自身的條件,我更可以。 我出生後第八天就受了割禮,我是以色列人,屬於便雅憫支派,是道道地地的希伯來人。論守律法,我是法利賽人; 論熱心,我曾經迫害教會;論律法要求的義,我是無可指責的。 但是為了基督,我從前以為有價值的,現在認為毫無價值。 不但如此,我看萬事都毫無價值,因為認識我主基督耶穌最寶貴。我為祂失去了一切,我把失去的一切視為垃圾,好得到基督, 與祂聯合。我成為義人不是因為遵行律法,而是因為信靠基督。這義從上帝而來,以信為基礎。 10 我渴望認識基督和祂復活的大能,與祂一同受苦,甚至到死的地步[b] 11 這樣我無論如何都可以從死裡復活。

直奔標竿

12 這並不是說我已經得到了或者純全了,我還要竭力追求,或者可以達到基督耶穌要我達到的目標。 13 弟兄姊妹,我並非以為自己已經得到了,我只專注一件事,就是忘記背後,努力向前, 14 直奔目標,要贏得上帝藉著基督耶穌從天上呼召我去得的獎賞。 15 我們中間成熟的基督徒都應該有這樣的看法。即使你們在什麼事上看法不同,上帝也必讓你們明白。 16 然而,我們長進到什麼程度,就照著什麼程度去行。

17 弟兄姊妹,你們要一同效法我,也要向那些以我們為榜樣的人學習。 18 我已經多次告訴你們,現在又流著淚提醒你們:有許多人行事為人與基督的十字架為敵。 19 他們的神就是自己的肚腹,他們以自己的羞恥為榮,只想著地上的事,他們的結局是滅亡。 20 我們卻是天上的國民,殷切等候從天降臨的救主,就是主耶穌基督。 21 那時,祂要以降服萬物的大能將我們這卑賤的軀體改變成像祂那樣榮耀的身體。

Footnotes

  1. 3·2 割禮」參見創世記17章;希臘文用誇張的字眼描述割禮,有諷刺之意。
  2. 3·10 甚至到死的地步」或譯「效法祂的死」。

All for Christ

Finally, my brethren, (A)rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

(B)Beware of dogs, beware of (C)evil workers, (D)beware of the mutilation! For we are (E)the circumcision, (F)who worship [a]God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though (G)I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I (H)more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, (I)of the tribe of Benjamin, (J)a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, (K)a Pharisee; concerning zeal, (L)persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But (M)what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss (N)for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having (O)my own righteousness, which is from the law, but (P)that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the (Q)power of His resurrection, and (R)the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may (S)attain[b] to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already (T)attained,[c] or am already (U)perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [d]apprehended; but one thing I do, (V)forgetting those things which are behind and (W)reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 (X)I press toward the goal for the prize of (Y)the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are (Z)mature, (AA)have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, (AB)God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already [e]attained, (AC)let us walk (AD)by the same [f]rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

17 Brethren, (AE)join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as (AF)you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are (AG)the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 (AH)whose end is destruction, (AI)whose god is their belly, and (AJ)whose glory is in their shame—(AK)who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For (AL)our citizenship is in heaven, (AM)from which we also (AN)eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (AO)who will transform our lowly body that it may be (AP)conformed to His glorious body, (AQ)according to the working by which He is able even to (AR)subdue all things to Himself.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:3 NU, M in the Spirit of God
  2. Philippians 3:11 Lit. arrive at
  3. Philippians 3:12 obtained it
  4. Philippians 3:13 laid hold of it
  5. Philippians 3:16 arrived
  6. Philippians 3:16 NU omits rule and the rest of v. 16.