New International Version | International Standard Version |
1Further, my brothers and sisters, 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. | 1So 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. |
2Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. | 2Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the mutilators! |
3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh-- | 3For it is we who are the circumcision —we who worship in the Spirit of God and find our joy in the Messiah Jesus. We have not placed any confidence in the flesh, |
4though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: | 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. |
5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; | 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 zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. | 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 were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. | 7But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of the Messiah. |
8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ | 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 Messiah Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish in order to gain the Messiah |
9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. | 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but one that comes through the faithfulness of the Messiah, the righteousness that comes from God and that depends on faith. |
10I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, | 10I want to know the Messiah —what his resurrection power is like and what it means to share in his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, |
11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. | 11though I hope to experience the resurrection from the dead. |
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. | 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 Messiah Jesus. |
13Brothers and sisters, 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 embraced it yet. But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, |
14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. | 14I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly call in the Messiah Jesus. |
15All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. | 15Therefore, those of us who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you how to think. |
16Only let us live up to what we have already attained. | 16However, we should live up to what we have achieved so far. |
17Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. | 17Join together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to those who live by the example we have set for you. |
18For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. | 18For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of the Messiah. |
19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. | 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on worldly things. |
20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, | 20Our citizenship, however, is in heaven, and it is from there that we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. |
21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. | 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. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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