Philippians 3 DBY
Summary: Paul warns sharply against those who insist Gentile believers be circumcised, calling them "dogs" and "evildoers" and countering that true circumcision is worship in the Spirit. He lists his own impeccable Jewish pedigree — Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, blameless under the law — only to declare it all loss compared to knowing Christ, wanting to gain Christ's righteousness by faith rather than his own by the law. Straining forward like a runner, he presses on toward the goal for the prize of God's upward call. He reminds them their citizenship is in heaven, from which they await a Savior who will transform their lowly bodies to be like his glorious body.
1For the rest, my brethren, rejoice in [the] Lord: to write the same things to you, to me [is] not irksome, and for you safe.
2See to dogs, see to evil workmen, see to the concision.
3For we are the circumcision, who worship by [the] Spirit ofGod, and boast in Christ Jesus, and do not trust in flesh.
4Though I have [my] trust even in flesh; if any other think to trust in flesh, I rather:
5as to circumcision, [I received it] the eighth day; of [the] race of Israel, of [the] tribe of Benjamin, Hebrew of Hebrews; as to [the] law, a Pharisee;
6as to zeal, persecuting the assembly; as to righteousness which [is] in [the] law, found blameless;
7but what things were gain to me these I counted, on account of Christ, loss.
8But surely I count also all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all, and count them to be filth, that I may gain Christ;
9and that I may be found in him, not having my righteousness, which [would be] on the principle of law, but that which is by faith of Christ, the righteousness which [is] ofGod through faith,
10to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
11if any way I arrive at the resurrection from among [the] dead.
12Not that I have already obtained [the prize], or am already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may get possession [of it], seeing that also I have been taken possession of by Christ [Jesus].
13Brethren, I do not count to have got possession myself; but one thing — forgetting the things behind, and stretching out to the things before,
14I pursue, [looking] towards [the] goal, for the prize of the calling on high ofGod in Christ Jesus.
15As many therefore as [are] perfect, let us be thus minded; and if ye are any otherwise minded, this alsoGod shall reveal to you.
16But whereto we have attained, [let us] walk in the same steps.
17Be imitators [all] together of me, brethren, and fix your eyes on those walking thus as you have us for a model;
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:
19whose end [is] destruction, whosegod [is] the belly, and [their] glory in their shame, who mind earthly things:)
20for our commonwealth has its existence in [the] heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ [as] Saviour,
21who shall transform our body of humiliation into conformity to his body of glory, according to the working of [the] power which he has even to subdue all things to himself.
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