Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
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. | 1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a protection for you. |
2Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! | 2Watch out for "dogs," watch out for evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate 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— | 3For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put 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: | 4although I once also had confidence in the flesh. 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; | 5circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; |
6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless. | 6regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. |
7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. | 7But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because 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 | 8More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so 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. | 9and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ--the righteousness from God based on 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, | 10My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, |
11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. | 11assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. |
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. | 12Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. |
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, | 13Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, |
14I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. | 14I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call 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. | 15Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. |
16Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained. | 16In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. |
17Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. | 17Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. |
18For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. | 18For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that 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. | 19Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, |
20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, | 20but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, 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. | 21He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself. |
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