Where Do You Put Your Confidence?

3 Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To keep writing the same things to you is not troublesome for me—but for you it is a safeguard.

² Beware of the dogs,^[a] beware of the evil workers, beware of the mutilation. ^{[b] 3} For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship by the Ruach Elohim and glory in Messiah Yeshua and have not depended on the flesh— ⁴ though I myself might have confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he might depend on the flesh, I far more— ⁵ circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel; from the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the Torah, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting Messiah’s community; as for Torah righteousness, found blameless.

⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, these I have considered as loss for the sake of the Messiah. ⁸ More than that, I consider all things to be loss in comparison to the surpassing value of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things; and I consider them garbage^[c] in order that I might gain Messiah ⁹ and be found in Him not having my righteousness derived from Torah, but one that is through trusting in Messiah—the righteousness from God based on trust. ^{[d] 10} My aim is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death— ¹¹ if somehow I might arrive at the resurrection from among the dead.

Pursuing the Goal

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or been perfected, but I press on if only I might take hold of that for which Messiah Yeshua took hold of me. ^{[e] 13} Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself as having taken hold of this. But this one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the reward of the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua. ^{[f] 15} Therefore let all who are mature have this attitude; and if you have a different attitude in anything, this also God will reveal to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, let us live up to the same standard we have attained.

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, join in following my example and notice those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. (¹⁸ For many walk who are enemies of the cross of Messiah—I have often told you about them, and now I am even weeping as I tell you. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction—their god is their belly and their glory is in their shame. They set their minds on earthly things.)