The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians

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- Chapter 3 -

(Romans 3:21–31)

Concerning other things, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is certainly not tiresome for me to write the same things to you, but for you, it is not necessary.

Beware of dogs; beware of those who work evil; beware of those who are divisive.

For we are the circumcised, we who serve God in the Spirit and who glory in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh.

Nevertheless, I might have confidence also in the flesh, for if anyone else seems to have confidence in the flesh, more so do I.

For I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew among Hebrews. According to the law, I was a Pharisee;

according to zeal, I persecuted the Church of God; according to the justice that is in the law, I lived without blame.(a)

But the things which had been to my gain, the same have I considered a loss, for the sake of Christ.

Yet truly, I consider everything to be a loss, because of the preeminent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of everything, considering it all to be like dung, so that I may gain Christ,

and so that you may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, the justice within faith, which is of God.

So shall I know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his Passion, having been fashioned according to his death,

if, by some means, I might attain to the resurrection which is from the dead.

Pressing on toward the Goal

It is not as though I have already received this, or were already perfect. But rather I pursue, so that by some means I might attain, that in which I have already been attained by Christ Jesus.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have already attained this. Instead, I do one thing: forgetting those things that are behind, and extending myself toward those things that are ahead,

I pursue the destination, the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, as many of us as are being perfected, let us agree about this. And if in anything you disagree, God will reveal this to you also.

Yet truly, whatever point we reach, let us be of the same mind, and let us remain in the same rule.

Citizenship in Heaven

Be imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who are walking similarly, just as you have seen by our example.

For many persons, about whom I have often told you (and now tell you, weeping,) are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Their end is destruction; their god is their belly; and their glory is in their shame: for they are immersed in earthly things.

But our way of life is in heaven. And from heaven, too, we await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ,

who will transform the body of our lowliness, according to the form of the body of his glory, by means of that power by which he is even able to subject all things to himself.

Footnotes

(a)3:6 The word ‘conversatus’ refers more to behavior and to a manner of living, than to actual spoken conversation.(Conte)

(Romans 3:21–31)

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.

Beware of the dogs; beware of the evil workers; beware of the false circumcision.

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;

though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:

circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ.

Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith,

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death,

if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on toward the Goal

Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before,

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.

Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let’s walk by the same rule. Let’s be of the same mind.

Citizenship in Heaven

Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example.

For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,

whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.