Php Philippians, chapter Epistle to the Philippians, chapter 3
Confidence in the Righteousness Through Faith in Christ Jesus
Finally, my brothers, be glad in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome for me, but for you, it is a safeguard.
Watch out for the dogs! Watch out for the evil workers! Watch out for the mutilation!3:2 Or for those who mutilate the flesh For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship in3:3 Or by the Spirit of God and glory3:3 Or boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh, although I myself have a basis for confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks to have a basis for confidence in the flesh, I have3:4 The verb have is contextually supplied to the text for the purpose of clarification more: Circumcised3:5 Greek circumcision on the eight day, from the nation3:5 Or race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; according to the Law, a Pharisee; according to zeal, persecuting the church;3:6 Some ancient manuscripts insert the genitive phrase of God according to the righteousness that is in the Law, blameless. But whatever things were gains to me, these I have considered loss because of Christ. Certainly, I also consider all things to be loss because of the superior value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as refuse, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness that stems from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God on the ground of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing Forward Toward the Goal
Not that I have already received it, or have already been perfected, but I press on, if actually I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.3:12 Some ancient manuscripts omit Jesus Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:3:13 The Greek text employs an ellipsis, which contrastively reads: But one thing Forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, as many as are mature, let us think this way. And if in anything you think differently, God will disclose this also to you. However, let us keep walking by that same standard to which we have attained.3:16 Or Nevertheless, let us walk by that same standard to which we have attained3:16 Some ancient manuscripts expand the text by inserting at the end of the verse the hortative statement: let us mind the same thing
The Apostolic Pattern
Brothers, become imitators of me, and observe those who walk in this way, just as you have us as a pattern. For many walk, of whom I often told you—and now tell you even weeping—as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their3:19 Greek the . Here, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, corresponding contextually to the English possessive their. It is used twice in this verse stomach, and their glory is in their shame—those who fix their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship exists in heaven, from which we also eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our lowliness to be conformed to the body of His glory, according to the power which enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.