17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross(A) of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory(B) is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious(C) body,(D) by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.

So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown,(E) in this manner stand firm(F) in the Lord, dear friends.

17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.(A) 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.(B) 19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.(C) 20 But our citizenship[a] 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[b] that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,[c] by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.(D) Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Footnotes

  1. 3.20 Or commonwealth
  2. 3.21 Or our humble bodies
  3. 3.21 Or his glorious body