Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹⁴ Do all things without murmuring and disputing, ¹⁵ so that you may be faultless and pure, and the children of God without rebuke in the midst of a corrupt and perverse nation – among whom see that you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, have not laboured in vain. ¹⁷ Yea, and even if I am offered up upon the offering and sacrifice of your faith, I am glad, and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ And you also, be glad for the same cause, and rejoice with me.

He warns them to beware of false teachers, whom he calls dogs, evil workers, and enemies of Christ. He reproves man’s own righteousness.

3 Moreover, my brethren, put your trust in the Lord. It grieves me not to write the same thing often to you, for to you it is a safeguard. ² Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of dissension.

³ For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and trust in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh – ⁴ though I have whereof I might be confident in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has reason to trust in the flesh, I have much more: