The Goal of Life

3 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.

² Beware of the ^(B)dogs, beware of the ^(C)evil workers, beware of the ^[a]false circumcision; ³ 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, ⁴ 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: ^5 (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; ⁶ as to zeal, ^(N)a persecutor of the church; as to the ^(O)righteousness which is in the Law, found ^(P)blameless.

⁷ But ^(Q)whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. ⁸ 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, ⁹ 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.

Think of Excellence

4 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, ^[n]whom I ^(BC)long to see, my joy and crown, ^(BD)stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to ^[o](BE)live in harmony in the Lord. ³ Indeed, true ^[p]companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my ^(BF)fellow workers, whose ^(BG)names are in the book of life.

^4 (BH)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. ^(BI)The Lord is ^[q]near. ^6 (BJ)Do not ^[r]be anxious about anything, but in everything by ^(BK)prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And ^(BL)the peace of God, which surpasses all ^[s]comprehension, will ^(BM)guard your hearts and ^(BN)minds in ^(BO)Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(BP)whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[t]lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen ^(BQ)in me, practice these things, and ^(BR)the God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provisions

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last ^(BS)you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. ¹¹ Not that I speak ^[u]from need, for I have learned to be ^[v](BT)content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going ^(BU)hungry, both of having abundance and ^(BV)suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things ^[w]through Him who ^(BW)strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to ^(BX)share with me in my difficulty.

¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the ^[x](BY)first preaching of the gospel, after I left ^(BZ)Macedonia, no church ^(CA)shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; ¹⁶ for even in ^(CB)Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. ^17 (CC)Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the ^[y]profit which increases to your account. ¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am ^[z]amply supplied, having received from ^(CD)Epaphroditus ^[aa]what you have sent, ^[ab](CE)a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And ^(CF)my God will supply ^[ac]all your needs according to His ^(CG)riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to ^(CH)our God and Father ^(CI)be the glory ^[ad]forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet every ^[ae]saint in Christ Jesus. ^(CJ)The brothers who are with me greet you. ^22 (CK)All the ^[af](CL)saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

^23 (CM)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ ^(CN)be with your spirit.

Praise to the Lord for His Faithfulness to Israel.