Philippians 3

1 For the rest, my brothers, be glad in the Lord. Writing the same things to you is no trouble to me, and for you it is safe.

In conclusion, my brethren, be joyful in the Lord. For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while so far as you are concerned it is a safe precaution.

2 Be on the watch against dogs, against the workers of evil, against those of the circumcision:

Beware of 'the dogs,' the bad workmen, the self-mutilators.

3 For we are the circumcision, who give worship to God and have glory in Jesus Christ, and have no faith in the flesh:

For we are the true circumcision--we who render to God a spiritual worship and make our boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in outward ceremonies:

4 Even though I myself might have faith in the flesh: if any other man has reason to have faith in the flesh, I have more:

although I myself might have some excuse for confidence in outward ceremonies. If any one else claims a right to trust in them, far more may I:

5 Being given circumcision on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in relation to the law, a Pharisee:

circumcised, as I was, on the eighth day, a member of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee;

6 In bitter hate I was cruel to the church; I kept all the righteousness of the law to the last detail.

as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church; as to the righteousness which comes through Law, blameless.

7 But those things which were profit to me, I gave up for Christ.

Yet all that was gain to me--for Christ's sake I have reckoned it loss.

8 Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward,

Nay, I even reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. And for His sake I have suffered the loss of everything, and reckon it all as mere refuse, in order that I may win Christ and be found in union with Him,

9 And be seen in him, not having my righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

not having a righteousness of my own, derived from the Law, but that which arises from faith in Christ--the righteousness which comes from God through faith.

10 That I may have knowledge of him, and of the power of his coming back from the dead, and a part with him in his pains, becoming like him in his death;

I long to know Christ and the power which is in His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings and die even as He died;

11 If in any way I may have the reward of life from the dead.

in the hope that I may attain to the resurrection from among the dead.

12 Not as if I had even now got the reward or been made complete: but I go on in the hope that I may come to the knowledge of that for which I was made the servant of Christ Jesus.

I do not say that I have already won the race or have already reached perfection. But I am pressing on, striving to lay hold of the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me.

13 Brothers, it is clear to me that I have not come to that knowledge; but one thing I do, letting go those things which are past, and stretching out to the things which are before,

Brethren, I do not imagine that I have yet laid hold of it. But this one thing I do--forgetting everything which is past and stretching forward to what lies in front of me,

14 I go forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of God in Christ Jesus.

with my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God's heavenward call in Christ Jesus.

15 Then let us all, who have come to full growth, be of this mind: and if in anything you are of a different mind, even this will God make clear to you:

Therefore let all of us who are mature believers cherish these thoughts; and if in any respect you think differently, that also God will make clear to you.

16 Only, as far as we have got, let us be guided by the same rule.

But whatever be the point that we have already reached, let us persevere in the same course.

17 Brothers, take me as your example, and take note of those who are walking after the example we have given.

Brethren, vie with one another in imitating me, and carefully observe those who follow the example which we have set you.

18 For there are those, of whom I have given you word before, and do so now with sorrow, who are haters of the cross of Christ;

For there are many whom I have often described to you, and I now even with tears describe them, as being enemies to the Cross of Christ.

19 Whose end is destruction, whose god is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, whose minds are fixed on the things of the earth.

Their end is destruction, their bellies are their God, their glory is in their shame, and their minds are devoted to earthly things.

20 For our country is in heaven; from where the Saviour for whom we are waiting will come, even the Lord Jesus Christ:

We, however, are free citizens of Heaven, and we are waiting with longing expectation for the coming from Heaven of a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 By whom this poor body of ours will be changed into the image of the body of his glory, in the measure of the working by which he is able to put all things under himself.

who, in the exercise of the power which He has even to subject all things to Himself, will transform this body of our humiliation until it resembles His own glorious body.