Dual Panel1Finally <3063>, my <3450> brothers and sisters <80>, rejoice <5463> in <1722> the Lord <2962>! To write <1125> this <846> again is no <3756> trouble <3636> to me <1698>, and <1161> it is a safeguard <804> for you <5213>.
2Beware <991> of the dogs <2965>, beware <991> of the evil <2556> workers <2040>, beware <991> of those who mutilate the flesh <2699>!
3For <1063> we <2249> are <1510> the circumcision <4061>, the ones who worship <3000> by the Spirit <4151> of God <2316>, exult <2744> in <1722> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424>, and <2532> do <3982> not <3756> rely <3982> on <1722> human <4561> credentials <3982>
4–though <2539> mine <1473> too are significant. If <1487> someone <5100> thinks <1380> he has <2192> good reasons to put confidence <4006> in <1722> human credentials <4561>, I <1473> have more <3123>:
5I was circumcised <4061> on the eighth day <3637>, from <1537> the people <1085> of Israel <2474> and the tribe <5443> of Benjamin <958>, a Hebrew <1445> of <1537> Hebrews <1445>. I lived according to <2596> the law <3551> as a Pharisee <5330>.
6In <2596> my zeal for God <2205> I persecuted <1377> the church <1577>. According to <2596> the righteousness <1343> stipulated in <1722> the law <3551> I was <1096> blameless <273>.
7But <235> these <5023> assets <2771> I have come to regard <2233> as liabilities <2209> because of <1223> Christ <5547>.
8More than that <3304>, I now regard <2233> all things <3956> as liabilities <2209> compared <1510> to the far greater value <5242> of knowing <1108> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424> my <3450> Lord <2962>, for <1223> whom <3739> I have suffered the loss <2210> of all things <3956>– indeed <2532>, I regard <2233> them as dung <4657>!– that <2443> I may gain <2770> Christ <5547>,
9and <2532> be found <2147> in <1722> him <846>, not <3361> because I have <2192> my own <1699> righteousness <1343> derived from <1537> the law <3551>, but <235> because <1223> I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s <5547> faithfulness <4102>– a righteousness <1343> from <1537> God <2316> that is in fact based on <1909> Christ’s faithfulness <4102>.
10My aim is to know <1097> him <846>, to experience the power <1411> of his <846> resurrection <386>, to share <2842> in his sufferings <3804>, and <2532> to be like <4833> him <846> in his <846> death <2288>,
11and so, somehow <4459>, to attain <2658> to <1519> the resurrection <1815> from <1537> the dead <3498>.
12Not <3756> that <3754> I have <2983> already <2235> attained <2983> this– that is, I have <5048> not already <2235> been perfected <5048>– but <1161> I strive to lay hold <2638> of that for which <3739> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424> also laid hold <2638> of me.
13Brothers and sisters <80>, I <1473> do <3049> not <3768> consider <3049> myself <1683> to have attained <2638> this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting <1950> the things that are behind <3694> and <1161> reaching out <1901> for the things that are ahead <1715>,
14with <2596> this goal in mind <4649>, I strive <1377> toward <1519> the prize <1017> of the upward <507> call <2821> of God <2316> in <1722> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424>.
15Therefore <3767> let those of us who are “perfect <5046>” embrace <5426> this <5124> point of view. If <1487> you think <5426> otherwise <2088>, God <2316> will reveal <601> to you <5213> the error of your ways.
16Nevertheless <4133>, let us live up <4748> to <1519> the standard that we have already attained <5348>.
17Be <1096> imitators <4831> of me <3450>, brothers and sisters <80>, and <2532> watch carefully <4648> those who are living <4043> this way <3779>, just as <2531> you have <2192> us <2248> as an example <5179>.
18For <1063> many <4183> live <4043>, about whom <3739> I have <3004> often <4178> told <3004> you <5213>, and <1161> now <3568>, with tears <2799>, I tell <3004> you that they are the enemies <2190> of the cross <4716> of Christ <5547>.
19Their end <5056> is destruction <684>, their god <2316> is the belly <2836>, they exult <1391> in <1722> their <846> shame <152>, and they think about <5426> earthly things <1919>.
20But <1063> our <2257> citizenship <4175> is <5225> in <1722> heaven <3772>– and <2532> we <553> also await <553> a savior <4990> from <1537> there, the Lord <2962> Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>,
21who <3739> will transform <3345> these humble <5014> bodies <4983> of ours <2257> into the likeness <4832> of his <846> glorious <1391> body <4983> by <2596> means of that power <1753> by which he <846> is able <1410> to subject <5293> all things <3956> to himself <846>.