4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised 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; 6 regarding zeal,d persecutinge the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law,f blameless.g

7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing valueh 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 Christj