Book of Common Prayer

Finally, Rejoice In The Lord

3 Finally, my brothers, be rejoicing in the Lord. To be writing the same things to you is not troublesome for me, and is safe for you—

Watch Out For The False Circumcision

² Be watching-out-for the dogs^[a], be watching out for the evil workers, be watching out for the mutilation^[b]. ³ For we are the circumcision, the ones worshiping in the Spirit of God and boasting in Christ Jesus and not putting-confidence in the flesh— ⁴ though myself having confidence even in the flesh!

If Anyone Can Put Confidence In The Flesh, I More

If any other person thinks that he may put-confidence in the flesh, I more— ⁵ in circumcision the eighth day; from the nation of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew from Hebrews; in relation to the Law— a Pharisee; ⁶ in relation to zeal— persecuting the church; in relation to the righteousness in the Law— having been blameless^[c].

But I Count All Such Things As Loss That I May Know Christ And His Power

⁷ But what things were gains to me, these I have regarded to be a loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ But more than that, I am indeed regarding all things to be a loss for the sake of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of Whom I suffered-loss-of all things and am regarding them as garbage in order that I might gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the Law but the one through faith^[d] in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith— ¹⁰ that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the partnership^[e] of His sufferings, being conformed to His death ¹¹ if somehow^[f] I might attain to [the power of] the resurrection-out from the dead.

Brothers, I Am Forgetting The Past And Pressing On Toward The True Prize

¹² Not that I already obtained it or have already been made-perfect^[g], but I am pressing-on to see if I may indeed take-hold-of ^[h] that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things behind and stretching-toward the things ahead, ¹⁴ I am pressing-on toward the goal for the prize of the upward^[i] calling from God in Christ Jesus.

All Who Claim To Be Mature: Think This Same Way. Imitate Me

¹⁵ Therefore, all who are mature— let us be thinking^[j] this. And if you are thinking anything differently, God will reveal this also to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to what thinking we attained, by the same let us be walking-in-line.

In Fulfillment of Isaiah, John The Baptist Prepares The Nation For The Messiah

3 Now during those days John the Baptist comes^[a], proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn-near”. ³ For this one is the one having been spoken of through Isaiah the prophet saying [in Isa 40:3], “A voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, be making His paths straight’”. ⁴ Now John himself was having^[b] his clothing [made] of camel’s hair, and a belt made-of-leather around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ At that time Jerusalem and all Judea and all the surrounding-region of the Jordan was going out to him. ⁶ And they were being baptized in the Jordan River by him while confessing-out^[c] their sins.

John Says To Produce Fruit Worthy of Repentance, Because The Chaff Will Be Burned

⁷ But having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to^[d] his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers— who showed^[e] you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹ And do not think that you may say within^[f] yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’. For I say to you that God is able to raise-up children for Abraham from these stones! ¹⁰ And the axe is already lying^[g] at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ I am baptizing you with^[h] water for repentance, but the One coming after me is more powerful than me, of Whom I am not fit to carry the sandals. He will baptize you with^[i] the Holy Spirit and fire^[j]— ¹² Whose winnowing-tool is in His hand, and He will cleanse-out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But He will burn up the chaff with an inextinguishable fire”.