Philippians 3

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

1One more thing, my brothers and sisters. Be glad because you belong to the Lord. I do not mind writing the same things again. Saying them again keeps you safe.

2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

2Watch out for those dogs. Watch out for people who do evil work. Watch out for the men who cut the body.

NoteCircumcision was a small cutting done to Jewish baby boys. It was a sign that they belonged to God's people. Some men were telling the Philippians that they had to have this done. Paul calls it just "cutting" here, because he says it does not make anyone belong to God.

3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

3We are the ones who truly belong to God. We worship him by his Spirit. We are glad because of Christ Jesus. We do not trust in what is done to our bodies.

4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

4I could trust in those things too, if anyone could. Someone may think he has good reasons to trust them. I have even more.

5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

5I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am from Israel, from the family group of Benjamin. My parents were Hebrews, and so am I. I kept God's law as a Pharisee, a man who followed the rules very carefully.

6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

6I wanted to serve God so much that I hurt his people, the church. As for keeping the law's rules, no one could say I did wrong.

7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

7All those things once looked like riches to me. Now I count them as loss, because I have Christ.

8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

8More than that, I count everything as loss. Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord is worth far more. I have lost everything for him. I think of it all as garbage. What I want is to gain Christ,

9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

9and to belong to him completely. I am not right with God because I kept the law. I am right with God because I trust Christ. God himself gives this to people who trust him.

10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

10I want to know Christ. I want to know the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his suffering and become like him in his death.

11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

11Then somehow I too will be raised up from death.

12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

12I do not have all this yet. I am not finished growing. But I keep running after it. Christ Jesus took hold of me, and I want to take hold of that.

Note"Perfect" in the old English here does not mean never doing wrong. It means finished, or fully grown up.

13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

13Brothers and sisters, I know I do not have it yet. But I do one thing. I forget what is behind me. I reach out for what is ahead.

14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

14I run hard toward the finish line. I want the prize that God calls me to in Christ Jesus.

15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

15All of us who have grown up in faith should think this way. Maybe you think differently about something. Then God will show you the truth about that too.

16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

16But we must keep living by what we have already learned. Let us all walk the same way.

17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

17Brothers and sisters, follow my example together. Watch closely the people who live the way we showed you.

18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

18Many people live as enemies of the cross, where Christ died. I have told you this many times. Now I tell you again, and I am crying as I say it.

19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

19They will end in ruin. Their stomach is their god. They are proud of things they should be ashamed of. They think only about things on earth.

20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

20But our home is in heaven, and we belong there. We wait eagerly for our Savior to come from there. He is the Lord Jesus Christ.

NoteThe old word here is "conversation," but in 1611 that word meant the way a person lives and where a person belongs. Paul is saying heaven is our true home country.

21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

21He will change our weak bodies. He will make them like his own shining body. He has the power to put everything under his rule.

Note"Vile body" sounds like the body is disgusting. The word means lowly or weak, not wicked.