Philippians 3
3
1As to the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not wearisome, but to you it is necessary.
2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3For we are the circumcision, who in spirit serve God; and glory in Christ Jesus, not having confidence in the flesh.
4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinketh he may have confidence in the flesh, I more,
5Being circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; according to the law, a Pharisee:
6According to zeal, persecuting the church of God; according to the justice that is in the law, conversing without blame.
7But the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ.
8Furthermore I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ:
9And may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God, justice in faith:
10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death,
11If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead.
12Not as though I has already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.
13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do: forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching forth myself to those that are before,
14I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus.
15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, this also God will reveal to you.
16Nevertheless whereunto we are come, that we be of the same mind, let us also continue in the same rule.
17Be ye followers of me, brethren, and observe them who walk so as you have our model.
18For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping), that they are enemies of the cross of Christ;
19Whose end is destruction; whose God is their belly; and whose glory is in their shame; who mind earthly things.
20But our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,
21Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Philippians 3
3
Being Acceptable to God
1Finally, my dear friends, be glad that you belong to the Lord. It doesn't bother me to write the same things to you that I have written before. In fact, it is for your own good.
2Watch out for those people who behave like dogs! They are evil and want to do more than just circumcise you. 3But we are the ones who are truly circumcised, because we worship by the power of God's Spirit#3.3 by the power of God's Spirit: Some manuscripts have “sincerely.” and take pride in Christ Jesus. We don't brag about what we have done, 4although I could. Others may brag about themselves, but I have more reason to brag than anyone else. 5#Ro 11.1; Ac 23.6; 26.4,5. I was circumcised when I was eight days old,#3.5 when I was eight days old: Jewish boys are circumcised eight days after birth. and I am from the nation of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a true Hebrew. As a Pharisee, I strictly obeyed the Law of Moses. 6#Ac 8.3; 22.4; 26.9-11. And I was so eager I even made trouble for the church. I did everything the Law demands in order to please God.
7But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. 8Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ 9and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. 10All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, 11so that somehow I also may be raised to life.
Running toward the Goal
12I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. 13My friends, I don't feel I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. 15All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you. 16But we must keep going in the direction that we are now headed.
17 #
1 Co 4.16; 11.1. My friends, I want you to follow my example and learn from others who closely follow the example we set for you. 18I often warned you that many people are living as enemies of the cross of Christ. And now with tears in my eyes, I warn you again 19that they are headed for hell! They worship their stomachs and brag about the disgusting things they do. All they can think about are the things of this world.
20But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ 21#4 Macc 9.22. has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
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