Warning against Pride

1So 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.

2Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the mutilators!b 3For it is we who are the circumcisionc —we who worship in the Spirit of Godd and find our joy in the Messiahe Jesus. We have not placed any confidence in the flesh, 4although 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 5Having 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. 6As for my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church. As far as righteousness in the Law is concerned, I was blameless.

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

Pursuing the Goal

12It’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 Messiahn Jesus. 13Brothers, 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, 14I keep pursuing the goal to win the prizep of God’s heavenly call in the Messiahq Jesus.

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

True and False Teachers

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

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