3Finally, my brothers and sisters, be joyful because you belong to the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write about some important matters to you again. If you know about them, you will have a safe path to follow.

²Watch out for those dogs. They do evil things. When they circumcise, it is nothing more than a useless cutting of the body.

³But we have been truly circumcised. We worship God by the power of his Spirit. We brag about what Christ Jesus has done. We don’t put our trust in our weak human nature.

⁴I have many reasons to trust in my human nature. Others may think they have reasons to trust in theirs. But I have even more. ⁵I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am part of the people of Israel. I am from the tribe of Benjamin. I am a pure Hebrew. As far as the law is concerned, I am a Pharisee. ⁶As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the Law is concerned, I kept it perfectly.

⁷I thought things like that were for my benefit. But now I consider them to be nothing because of Christ. ⁸Even more, I consider everything to be nothing compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. To know him is the best thing of all. Because of him I have lost everything. But I consider all of it to be garbage so I can get to know Christ. ⁹I want to be joined to him.

For me, being right with God does not come from the law. It comes because I believe in Christ. It comes from God. It is received by faith.

¹⁰I want to know Christ better. I want to know the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings. I want to become like him by sharing in his death. ¹¹Then by God’s grace I will rise from the dead.

Moving on Toward the Goal

¹²I have not yet received all of those things. I have not yet been made perfect. But I move on to take hold of what Christ Jesus took hold of me for.

¹³Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. ¹⁴I move on toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.

¹⁵All of us who are grown up in the faith should see things that way. Maybe you think differently about something. But God will make it clear to you. ¹⁶Only let us live up to what we have already reached.

¹⁷Brothers and sisters, join with others in following my example. Pay close attention to those who live in keeping with the pattern we gave you.

¹⁸I have told you those things many times before. Now I say it again with tears in my eyes. Many people live like enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹The only thing they have coming to them is death. Their stomach is their god. They brag about what they should be ashamed of. They think only about earthly things.

²⁰But we are citizens of heaven. And we can hardly wait for a Savior from there. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹He has the power to bring everything under his control. By his power he will change our earthly bodies. They will become like his glorious body.

4My brothers and sisters, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord’s strength. I love you and long for you. Dear friends, you are my joy and my crown.

Do What Is Best

²Here is what I’m asking Euodia and Syntyche to do. I want them to agree with each other because they belong to the Lord.

³My true companion, here is what I ask you to do. Help those women. They have served at my side. They have helped me spread the good news. So have Clement and the rest of those who have worked together with me. Their names are all written in the Book of Life.

⁴Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful. ⁵Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon.

⁶Don’t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. ⁷Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.

⁸Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things. ⁹Do what you have learned or received or heard from me. Follow my example.

The God who gives peace will be with you.

Paul Gives Thanks for Help Received

¹⁰At last you are concerned about me again. That makes me very happy. We belong to the Lord. I know that you have been concerned. But you had no chance to show it.

¹¹I’m not saying that because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me. ¹²I know what it’s like not to have what I need. I also know what it’s like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. ¹³I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.

¹⁴But it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵And you believers at Philippi know what happened when I left Macedonia. Not one church helped me in the matter of giving and receiving. You were the only one that did. That was in the early days when you first heard the good news. ¹⁶Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help when I needed it. You did it again and again.

¹⁷I’m not looking for a gift. I’m looking for what is best for you. ¹⁸I have received my full pay, and even more than that. I have everything I need. That’s because Epaphroditus brought me the gifts you sent. They are a sweet-smelling offering. They are a gift that God accepts. He is pleased with it.

¹⁹My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches that come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus.

²⁰Give glory to our God and Father for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

²¹Greet all of God’s people. They belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. ²²All of God’s people here send you greetings. Most of all, those who live in the palace of Caesar send you greetings.

²³May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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