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v1
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, but is a safeguard for you.
v2
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the mutilation. ^[This term is a wordplay on the Greek word “circumcision”]
v3
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship ^[Or “who serve”] by the Spirit ^[Or “in the Spirit”] of God and boast in Christ Jesus and do not put confidence in the flesh,
v4
although I could have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks to put confidence in the flesh, I can do so more:
v5
circumcised on the eighth day ^[Literally “with respect to circumcision it was on the eighth day”], from the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born from Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee,
v6
according to zeal persecuting the church, according to the righteousness in the law being blameless.
v7
But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have considered loss because of Christ.
v8
More than that ^[Literally “but on the contrary”], I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them ^[Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] dung, in order that I may gain Christ
v9
and may be found in him, not having my righteousness which is from the law, but which is through faith in Christ, ^[Or “through Christ’s faithfulness”] the righteousness from God on the basis of faith, ^[Or “on the basis of his faithfulness”]
v10
so that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
v11
if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
v12
Not that I have already received this, ^[*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] or have already been made perfect, but I press on if indeed I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ. ^[Some manuscripts have “Christ Jesus”]
v13
Brothers, I do not consider myself to have laid hold of it. ^[*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] But I do one thing, forgetting the things behind and straining toward the things ahead,
v14
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
v15
Therefore as many as are perfect, let us hold this opinion ^[Literally “let us think this”], and if you think anything differently, God will reveal this also to you.
v16
Only to what we have attained, to the same hold on.
v17
Become fellow imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who walk in this way, just as you have us as an example.
v18
For many live, of whom I spoke about to you many times, but now speak about even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,
v19
whose end is destruction, whose God is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, the ones who think on earthly things.
v20
For our commonwealth exists in heaven, from which also we eagerly await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
v21
who will transform our humble body to be conformed to his glorious body, in accordance with the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.