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although I could. Others may brag about themselves, but I have more reason to brag than anyone else. (A) I was circumcised when I was eight days old,[a] 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. (B) And I was so eager I even made trouble for the church. I did everything the Law demands in order to please God.

But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing 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 and 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 3.5 when I was eight days old: Jewish boys are circumcised eight days after birth.

though I myself have reasons for such confidence.(A)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised(B) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,(C) of the tribe of Benjamin,(D) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;(E) as for zeal,(F) persecuting the church;(G) as for righteousness based on the law,(H) faultless.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss(I) for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing(J) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ(K) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,(L) but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness(M) that comes from God on the basis of faith.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of