Philippians 3–4

All for Christ

3Finally, my brethren, ^arejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

^2bBeware of dogs, beware of ^cevil workers, ^dbeware of the mutilation! ³For we are ^ethe circumcision, ^fwho worship ¹God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, ⁴though ^gI also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I ^hmore so: ⁵circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, ⁱof the tribe of Benjamin, ^ja Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, ^ka Pharisee; ⁶concerning zeal, ^lpersecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷But ^mwhat things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸Yet indeed I also count all things loss ⁿfor the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in Him, not having ^omy own righteousness, which is from the law, but ^pthat which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰that I may know Him and the ^qpower of His resurrection, and ^rthe fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹if, by any means, I may ^sattain ²to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal

¹²Not that I have already ^tattained, ³ or am already ^uperfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³Brethren, I do not count myself to have ⁴apprehended; but one thing I do, ^vforgetting those things which are behind and ^wreaching forward to those things which are ahead, ^14xI press toward the goal for the prize of ^ythe upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵Therefore let us, as many as are ^zmature, ^ahave this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, ^bGod will reveal even this to you. ¹⁶Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already ⁵attained, ^clet us walk ^dby the same ⁶rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

¹⁷Brethren, ^ejoin in following my example, and note those who so walk, as ^fyou have us for a pattern. ¹⁸For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are ^gthe enemies of the cross of Christ: ^19hwhose end is destruction, ⁱwhose god is their belly, and ^jwhose glory is in their shame—^kwho set their mind on earthly things. ²⁰For ^lour citizenship is in heaven, ^mfrom which we also ⁿeagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ^21owho will transform our lowly body that it may be ^pconformed to His glorious body, ^qaccording to the working by which He is able even to ^rsubdue all things to Himself.

4Therefore, my beloved and ^alonged-for brethren, ^bmy joy and crown, so ^cstand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

²I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche ^dto be of the same mind in the Lord. ³¹And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who ^elabored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in ^fthe Book of Life.

^4gRejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

⁵Let your ²gentleness be known to all men. ^hThe Lord is at hand.

⁶ⁱBe anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with ^jthanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷and ^kthe peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

⁸Finally, brethren, whatever things are ^ltrue, whatever things are ^mnoble, whatever things are ⁿjust, ^owhatever things are pure, whatever things are ^plovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and ^qthe God of peace will be with you.

Philippian Generosity

¹⁰But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last ^ryour ³care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, ^sto be content: ^12tI know how to ⁴be abased, and I know how to ⁵abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³I can do all things ^uthrough ⁶Christ who strengthens me.

¹⁴Nevertheless you have done well that ^vyou shared in my distress. ¹⁵Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, ^wno church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷Not that I seek the gift, but I seek ^xthe fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸Indeed I ⁷have all and abound. I am full, having received from ^yEpaphroditus the things sent from you, ^za sweet-smelling aroma, ^aan acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God ^bshall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ^20cNow to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greeting and Blessing

²¹Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren ^dwho are with me greet you. ²²All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

²³The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with ⁸you all. Amen.