Phili 3 | ISV | STEP | Warning against Pride So then, 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.

Philippians 3

1 Warning against Pride

So then, ^{▼▼Or Furthermore} 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.2Cor 13:11; Phil 4:4; 1Thes 5:16

2 Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the mutilators! ^{▼▼Lit. the mutilation; Gk. katatome (a cutting off)}Isa 56:10; Rom 2:28; 2Cor 11:13; Gal 5:2, 15 3 For it is we who are the circumcision ^{▼▼Gk. peritome (a cutting around)}—we who worship in the Spirit of God ^{▼▼Other mss. read worship God in the Spirit} and boast in Christ Jesus. We have not placed any confidence in the flesh,Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; John 4:23-24; Rom 2:29; 4:11-12; 7:6; Gal 6:14; Col 2:11 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. ^{▼▼Lit. I more}2Cor 11:18, 21 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.Gen 17:12; Acts 23:6; 26:4-5; Rom 11:1; 2Cor 11:22 6 As far as zeal is concerned, I was a persecutor of the church. As far as the righteousness that is in the law is concerned, I was perfect.Luke 1:6; Acts 8:3; 9:1; 22:3; Rom 10:5; Gal 1:13-14

7 But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of Christ.Matt 13:44 8 What is more, I continue to consider all these things as a loss for the sake of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish ^{▼▼Or dung} in order to gain ChristIsa 53:11; Jer 9:23-24; John 17:3; 1Cor 2:2; Col 2:2 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 of Christ, ^{▼▼Or through faith in Christ} the righteousness that comes from God and that depends on faith.Rom 1:17; 3:21-22; 9:30; Gal 2:16 10 I want to know Christ ^{▼▼Lit. To know him}—what his resurrection power is like and what it means to share in his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,Rom 6:3-5; 8:17; 2Cor 4:10-11; 2Tim 2:11-12; 1Pet 4:13 11 though I hope to experience the resurrection from the dead.Acts 26:7

12 Pursuing the GoalIt'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 Christ Jesus.1Tim 6:12; Heb 12:23 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it. ^{▼▼Other mss. read embraced it yet} But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,Ps 45:10; Luke 9:62; 1Cor 9:24, 26; 2Cor 5:16; Heb 6:1 14 I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize ^{▼▼Lit. the goal for the prize} of God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.2Tim 4:7-8; Heb 3:1; 12:1

15 Therefore, those of us who are mature ^{▼▼Or perfect} should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you how to think. ^{▼▼Lit. show you this}1Cor 2:6; 14:20; Gal 5:10 16 However, we should live up to what we have achieved so far.Rom 12:16; 15:5; Gal 6:16; Phil 2:2

17 True and False TeachersJoin together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to those who live by the example we have given you. ^{▼▼Lit. the example you have in us}1Cor 4:16; 11:1; Phil 4:9; 1Thes 1:6; 1Pet 5:3 18 For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.Gal 1:7; 2:21; 6:12; Phil 1:15-16 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on worldly things.Hos 4:7; Rom 8:5; 16:18; 2Cor 11:12, 15; Gal 6:13; 1Tim 6:5; Titus 1:11; 2Pet 2:1

20 Our citizenship, however, is in heaven, and it is from there that we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.Acts 1:11; 1Cor 1:7; Eph 2:6, 19; Col 3:1, 3; 1Thes 1:10; Titus 2:13 21 He will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorious body through the power that enables him to bring everything under his authority.1Cor 15:26-27, 43, 48-49; Eph 1:19; Col 3:4; 1John 3:2