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. ¹⁷ Be fellow-imitators of me, brothers, and be watching the ones walking in this manner, just as you have us as a pattern.

For There Are Many Enemies of The Cross. They Focus On Earthly Things

¹⁸ For many walk as to whom I was often saying to you, and now even weeping say, they are the enemies of the cross of Christ— ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their stomach and glory is in their shame— the ones thinking^[k] the earthly things.

And Our Citizenship Is In Heaven

²⁰ For our place-of-citizenship is in the heavens, from where also we are eagerly-awaiting the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ Who will transform the body of our lowliness^[l] so as to be similar-in-form^[m] to the body of His glory, according-to the working that enables Him also to subject all things to Himself.