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Philippians 3
International Standard Version

Warning against Pride

3 So then,[a] my brothers, keep on rejoicing in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you; indeed, it is for your safety.

2 Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the mutilators![b] 3 For it is we who are the circumcision[c]—we who worship in the Spirit of God[d] and find our joy in the Messiah[e] Jesus. We have not placed any confidence in the flesh, 4 although I could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he can place confidence in the flesh, I have more reason to think so.[f] 5 Having been circumcised on the eighth day, I am of the nation of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. As far as the Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee. 6 As for my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church. As far as righteousness in the Law is concerned, I was blameless.

7 But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of the Messiah.[g] 8 What is more, I continue to consider all these things to be a loss for the sake of what is far more valuable, knowing the Messiah[h] Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish[i] in order to gain the Messiah[j] 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but one that comes through the faithfulness[k] of the Messiah,[l] the righteousness that comes from God and that depends on faith. 10 I want to know the Messiah[m]—what his resurrection power is like and what it means to share in his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 though I hope to experience the resurrection from the dead.

Pursuing the Goal

12 It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah[n] Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it yet.[o] But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize[p] of God’s heavenly call in the Messiah[q] Jesus.

15 Therefore, those of us who are mature[r] should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you how to think.[s] 16 However, we should live up to what we have achieved so far.

True and False Teachers

17 Join together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to those who live by the example we have set for you.[t] 18 For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of the Messiah.[u] 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on worldly things.

20 Our citizenship, however, is in heaven, and it is from there that we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[v] 21 He will change our unassuming bodies and make them like his glorious body through the power that enables him to bring everything under his authority.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:1 Or Furthermore
  2. Philippians 3:2 Lit. the mutilation; Lit. katatome (a cutting off)
  3. Philippians 3:3 Lit. peritome (a cutting around)
  4. Philippians 3:3 Other mss. read worship God in the Spirit
  5. Philippians 3:3 Or Christ
  6. Philippians 3:4 Lit. I more
  7. Philippians 3:7 Or Christ
  8. Philippians 3:8 Or Christ
  9. Philippians 3:8 Or dung
  10. Philippians 3:8 Or Christ
  11. Philippians 3:9 Or through faith in
  12. Philippians 3:9 Or Christ
  13. Philippians 3:10 Lit. To know him
  14. Philippians 3:12 Or Christ
  15. Philippians 3:13 Other mss. omit yet
  16. Philippians 3:14 Lit. the goal for the prize
  17. Philippians 3:14 Or Christ
  18. Philippians 3:15 Or perfect
  19. Philippians 3:15 Lit. show you this
  20. Philippians 3:17 Lit. the example you have in us
  21. Philippians 3:18 Or Christ
  22. Philippians 3:20 Or Christ
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Philippians 3
New International Version

No Confidence in the Flesh

3 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,(A) and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs,(B) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision,(C) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,(D) and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.(E)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised(F) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,(G) of the tribe of Benjamin,(H) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;(I) 6 as for zeal,(J) persecuting the church;(K) as for righteousness based on the law,(L) faultless.

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss(M) for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing(N) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ(O) 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,(P) but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness(Q) that comes from God on the basis of faith.(R) 10 I want to know(S) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,(T) becoming like him in his death,(U) 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection(V) from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(W) but I press on to take hold(X) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(Y) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(Z) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(AA) toward the goal to win the prize(AB) for which God has called(AC) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature(AD) should take such a view of things.(AE) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.(AF) 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example,(AG) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.(AH) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,(AI) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.(AJ) 19 Their destiny(AK) is destruction, their god is their stomach,(AL) and their glory is in their shame.(AM) Their mind is set on earthly things.(AN) 20 But our citizenship(AO) is in heaven.(AP) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,(AQ) 21 who, by the power(AR) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies(AS) so that they will be like his glorious body.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of
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Philippians 3
King James Version

3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

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

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

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