Philippians 3:1-14 ▼

1 HENCEFORTH, my brethren, rejoice in our LORD. It does not bother me to write the same things to you, because they enlighten you.

2 Beware of backbiters, beware of evil workers, beware of circumcising.

3 For we are the true people of circumcision, who worship God in Spirit, and glory in Jesus Christ, and yet do not rely on things of the flesh.

4 As for me, I once relied on things of the flesh. However, if a man thinks his hope is on things of the flesh, I have more hope than he has;

5 Because I was circumcised when I was eight days old, being an Israelite by race, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew son of Hebrews, and according to the law a Pharisee;

6 And because, concerning zeal, I was a persecutor of the church; and according to the standards of righteousness of the law, I was blameless.

7 But these things which once were a gain to me, I counted a loss for the sake of Christ.

8 And I still count them all a loss, for the sake of abundant knowledge of Jesus Christ my LORD: for whom I have lost everything, and I have considered all those things as refuse, so that I may increase in Christ

9 And be found in him, since I have no righteousness of my own gained from the law, but the righteousness which comes through the faith of Christ; that is, the righteousness which comes from God:

10 So that through this righteousness I may know Jesus and the power of his resurrection, and be a partaker of his sufferings, even to a death like his;

11 That I may by any means attain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained or were already perfect; but I am striving, that I may reach that for which Jesus Christ appointed me.

13 My brethren, I do not consider that I have reached the goal; but this one thing I do know, forgetting those things which are behind me, I strive for those things which are before me,

14 I press toward the goal to receive the prize of victory of God’s highest calling through Jesus Christ.