The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

(Romans 3:21–31)

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write these same things again to you is not bothersome. These things will keep you safe.

Watch out for the dogs. Watch out for the evil workers. Watch out for the mutilation.

For we are the circumcision. It is we who worship by the Spirit of God. It is we who take pride in Christ Jesus, and who have no confidence in the flesh.

Even so, I myself could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he has confidence in the flesh, I could have even more.

I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in respect to the law, a Pharisee.

I zealously persecuted the church. In respect to the righteousness of the law, I was blameless.

But whatever things were a profit for me, I have considered them as loss because of Christ.

In fact, now I count all things to be loss because of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For him I have discarded all things. I consider them rubbish so that I may gain Christ

and be found in him. I do not have a righteousness of my own from the law. Instead, I have the righteousness that is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that is from God based on faith.

So now I want to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings. I want to be transformed into the likeness of his death,

so somehow I may experience the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on toward the Goal

It is not true that I have already received these things, or that I have become complete. But I press on in order that I may grasp that for which I was grasped by Christ Jesus.

Brothers, I do not think that I myself have yet grasped it. But there is one thing: I forget what is behind and strain for what is ahead.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature, let us think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will also reveal that to you.

However, whatever we have reached, let us hold on to it.

Citizenship in Heaven

Be imitators of me, brothers. Closely watch those who are walking by the example that you have in us.

Many are walking-those about whom I have often told you, and now I am telling you with tears-as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Their destiny is destruction. For their god is their stomach, and their pride is in their shame. They think about earthly things.

But our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He will transform our lowly bodies into bodies formed like his glorious body, formed by the might of his power to subject all things to himself.

(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.