Philippians

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

2Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!

3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

4though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.

7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.

8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ,the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

10I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,

11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on toward the Goal

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

14I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

15All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.

16Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.

Citizenship in Heaven

17Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.

18For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

1As to the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not wearisome, but to you it is necessary.

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

3For we are the circumcision, who in spirit serve God; and glory in Christ Jesus, not having confidence in the flesh.

4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinketh he may have confidence in the flesh, I more,

5Being circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; according to the law, a Pharisee:

6According to zeal, persecuting the church of God; according to the justice that is in the law, conversing without blame.

7But the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ.

8Furthermore I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ:

9And may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God, justice in faith:

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

11If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead.

12Not as though I has already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.

13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do: forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching forth myself to those that are before,

14I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus.

15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, this also God will reveal to you.

16Nevertheless whereunto we are come, that we be of the same mind, let us also continue in the same rule.

17Be ye followers of me, brethren, and observe them who walk so as you have our model.

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

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

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

21Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.