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· ho Finally loipos, my egō brethren adelphos, rejoice chairō in en the Lord kyrios. To write graphō the ho same autos things again to you hymeis is no ou trouble oknēros for me egō, and de it is a safeguard asphalēs for you hymeis.

Beware blepō of the ho dogs kyōn, beware blepō of the ho evil kakos workers ergatēs, beware blepō of those ho who practice mutilation katatomē. For gar we hēmeis are eimi the ho true circumcision peritomē, who ho worship latreuō by the Spirit pneuma of God theos and kai glory kauchaomai in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous and kai have peithō no ou confidence peithō in en the flesh sarx even kai though kaiper I egō have echō reason pepoithēsis for confidence in en the flesh sarx. If ei anyone tis else allos thinks dokeō he has reason peithō for confidence in en the flesh sarx, I egō have more mallon: circumcised peritomē on the eighth oktaēmeros day , a member of ek the nation genos of Israel Israēl, of the tribe phylē of Benjamin Beniamin, a Hebrew Hebraios born of ek Hebrews Hebraios. In regard kata to the law nomos, I was a Pharisee Pharisaios; as kata for zeal zēlos, a persecutor diōkō of the ho church ekklēsia; as kata for the righteousness dikaiosynē · ho set forth ginomai in en the law nomos, I was blameless amemptos. But alla whatever hostis things were eimi gain kerdos to me egō, these houtos I have come to regard hēgeomai as loss zēmia because dia of · ho Christ Christos. More than that alla, I regard hēgeomai all pas things as eimi loss zēmia because dia of the ho surpassing hyperechō worth of ho knowing gnōsis Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous · ho my egō Lord kyrios, for dia whom hos I have suffered the loss of · ho all pas things and kai regard hēgeomai them as rubbish skybalon, in order hina to gain kerdainō Christ Christos and kai be found heuriskō in en him autos, not having echō a righteousness dikaiosynē of my emos own that ho comes from ek the Law nomos, but alla that ho which comes through dia faith pistis in Christ Christos, the ho righteousness dikaiosynē from ek God theos that is based on epi · ho faith pistis 10 that ho I may know ginōskō him autos and kai the ho power dynamis of ho his autos resurrection anastasis and kai the ho fellowship koinōnia of ho his autos sufferings pathēma, becoming symmorphizō like him in ho his autos death thanatos, 11 if ei somehow pōs I may attain katantaō the ho resurrection exanastasis · ho from ek the dead nekros.

12 Not ou that hoti I have already ēdē obtained lambanō all this or ē have already ēdē reached teleioō my goal , but de I press diōkō on in order to ei · kai make it my own katalambanō because epi hos · kai Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous has made me his own katalambanō. 13 Brothers adelphos, I egō do logizomai not ou consider logizomai to have made katalambanō it my emautou own ; but de this one heis thing I do: forgetting epilanthanomai what ho lies behind opisō and de reaching out to epekteinomai what ho lies ahead emprosthen, 14 I press on diōkō toward kata the goal skopos for eis the ho prize brabeion of the ho upward anō call klēsis of ho God theos in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous.

15 So oun those hosos of us who are mature teleios should take this houtos point of view phroneō; and kai if ei in anything tis you think phroneō differently heterōs, that houtos too kai · ho God theos will make known apokalyptō to you hymeis. 16 In any case plēn, let us live stoicheō up to eis what hos we have already autos attained phthanō. · ho

17 Join ginomai in following symmimētēs my egō example , brothers adelphos, and kai pay close attention to skopeō those ho who are living peripateō this way houtōs, as kathōs you have echō us hēmeis as an example typos. 18 For gar many polys are living peripateō ( I have legō often pollakis told legō you hymeis about legō them hos but de now nyn tell legō you even kai with tears klaiō) as ho enemies echthros of the ho cross stauros of ho Christ Christos. 19 Their hos · ho end telos is destruction apōleia, their hos · ho god theos is the ho belly koilia, and kai they · ho glory doxa in en · ho their autos shame aischunē. Their ho minds are set on phroneō · ho earthly epigeios things . 20 But gar our hēmeis · ho citizenship politeuma is hyparchō in en heaven ouranos, and it is from ek there hos · kai that we eagerly await apekdechomai a Savior sōtēr, the Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos, 21 who hos will transform metaschēmatizō · ho our hēmeis lowly tapeinōsis bodies sōma · ho into the likeness symmorphos of ho his autos glorious doxa body sōma, · ho by kata the ho power energeia that ho also kai enables dynamai him autos to subject hypotassō all things pas to himself autos. · ho

Values and priorities

So then, my brothers and sisters, be glad in the Lord. It’s no trouble for me to repeat the same things to you because they will help keep you on track. Watch out for the “dogs.” Watch out for people who do evil things. Watch out for those who insist on circumcision, which is really mutilation. We are the circumcision. We are the ones who serve by God’s Spirit and who boast in Christ Jesus. We don’t put our confidence in rituals performed on the body, though I have good reason to have this kind of confidence. If anyone else has reason to put their confidence in physical advantages, I have even more:

I was circumcised on the eighth day.

I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin.

I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews.

With respect to observing the Law, I’m a Pharisee.

With respect to devotion to the faith, I harassed the church.

With respect to righteousness under the Law, I’m blameless.

These things were my assets, but I wrote them off as a loss for the sake of Christ. But even beyond that, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ and be found in him. In Christ I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith. 10 The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death 11 so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead.

12 It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. 13 Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. 14 The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. 15 So all of us who are spiritually mature should think this way, and if anyone thinks differently, God will reveal it to him or her. 16 Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached.

Imitate Paul

17 Brothers and sisters, become imitators of me and watch those who live this way—you can use us as models. 18 As I have told you many times and now say with deep sadness, many people live as enemies of the cross. 19 Their lives end with destruction. Their god is their stomach, and they take pride in their disgrace because their thoughts focus on earthly things. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven. We look forward to a savior that comes from there—the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform our humble bodies so that they are like his glorious body, by the power that also makes him able to subject all things to himself.

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