Philippians 3–4

KNOWING CHRIST

3In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice^au in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you.

²Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil^av workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³For we are the circumcision,^aw the ones who worship by the Spirit^ax of God, boast in Christ Jesus,^ay and do not put confidence in the flesh—⁴although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised the eighth day;^az of the nation of Israel,^a of the tribe of Benjamin,^b a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law,^c a Pharisee; ⁶regarding zeal,^d persecuting^e the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law,^f blameless.^g

⁷But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. ⁸More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value^h of knowing Christⁱ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ^{j 9}and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law,^k but one that is through faith in Christ^A—the righteousness from God based on faith.^{l 10}My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings,^m being conformed to his death,^{n 11}assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

REACHING FORWARD TO GOD’S GOAL

¹²Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold^o of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³Brothers and sisters, I do not^A consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^p and reaching forward to what is ahead, ¹⁴I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly^B call in Christ Jesus.^{q 15}Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal^r this also to you. ¹⁶In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. ¹⁷Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross^s of Christ. ¹⁹Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory^t is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things, ²⁰Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious^u body,^v by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.

4So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown,^w in this manner stand firm^x in the Lord, dear friends.

PRACTICAL COUNSEL

²I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. ³Yes, I also ask you, true partner,^C to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life. ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your graciousness^D be known to everyone. The Lord is near.^{y 6}Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses^z all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.^aa

⁸Finally^E brothers and sisters, whatever is true,^ab whatever is honorable,^ac whatever is just,^ad whatever is pure,^ae whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence^af and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. ⁹Do what you have learned and received^ag and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

APPRECIATION OF SUPPORT

¹⁰I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again^ah you renewed your care for me.^ai You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. ¹¹I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. ¹²I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot.^aj In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. ¹³I am able to do all things through him^A who strengthens me.^{ak 14}Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

¹⁵And you Philippians^al know that in the early days of the gospel,^am when I left Macedonia,^an no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. ¹⁶For even in Thessalonica^ao you sent gifts for my need^ap several times. ¹⁷Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit^Baq that is increasing to your account. ¹⁸But I have received everything in full,^a and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied,^C having received from Epaphroditus^b what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing^c to God. ¹⁹And my God^d will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰Now to our God and Father^e be glory forever and ever.^f Amen.^g

FINAL GREETINGS

²¹Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. ²²All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s^h household.^{i 23}The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^Dj