Philippians 3

1 Finally [to sum up, in conclusion], my brothers [brethren, fellow believers], rejoice [be glad, delight] in the Lord [God, the supreme Master]. It is no trouble [not grievous, not tiresome] for me to write [record, convey] the same things [these same matters] to you again [once more], and it is a safeguard [safe, secure, a protection] for you [to keep you from harm]. word study 2 Watch out [be aware, beware] for those dogs [like wild dogs, worthless ones], those workers [laborers, evil-doers] of evil [harm, wickedness], those mutilators [practitioners of concision, cutters of the flesh] of the flesh [the physical body, human nature]! word study 3 For it is we [truly God’s people] who are the circumcision [those spiritually cut off from sin], we who worship [serve and give homage] by the Spirit [the vital principle] of God [the one true deity], who glory [boast and rejoice] in Christ Jesus [the anointed Messiah], and who put no confidence [do not trust] in the flesh [the physical body, human nature]— word study 4 though I myself [as a person, personally] could have such confidence [trust, faith]. If anyone else [another person, someone] thinks [believes, supposes] he has grounds [reason, cause] for confidence [assurance, reliance] in the flesh [physical achievements, earthly heritage], I have more [rather, to a greater degree]: word study 5 circumcised [as a newborn] on the eighth day [when I was one week old], of the people [nation, family] of Israel [the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants], of the tribe [clan] of Benjamin [an Israelite, son of Jacob]; a Hebrew [a Jew, an Israelite] of Hebrews [completely Hebrew in every way, a true Hebrew]; as to the law [according to the law, concerning legal observance], a Pharisee [a member of a Jewish sect, strictly obeying the laws of God]; word study 6 as to zeal [religious dedication, enthusiasm], persecuting [pursuing, causing to suffer] the church [assembly, community of believers]; as to righteousness [living according to God’s will, moral integrity] in the law [set of rules, regulations], faultless [blameless, without rebuke, unrebukeable]. word study 7 But [in contrast, on the other hand] whatever was [considered to be, deemed as] gain [profit, advantage] to me I count [reckon, consider] as loss [damage, worthless] for the sake [because of, through] of Christ [the Anointed One]. word study 8 More than that, I count all things as [utter] loss compared to the surpassing [exceeding all others] excellence of knowing [having a deep understanding of] Christ Jesus my Lord [the Messiah, my Master], for whom I have lost [suffered the loss of] all things. I consider them [to be] rubbish [garbage, worthless], that I may gain [acquire, obtain] Christ [the Anointed One, my Savior] word study 9 and be found [completely belong to him, in a deep relationship] in Him, not having my own [personal, self-achieved] righteousness [justification, being made right with God] from the law [Mosaic law, God’s commands], but that which is through [because of, by means of] faith [trust, confidence] in Christ [the Messiah, Jesus], the righteousness [justification, being made right] from God [the Father, the Almighty] on the basis of [through, by means of] faith [trust, confidence]. word study 10 I want to know [intimately understand, have a deep relationship with] Christ [the Messiah, the Anointed One] and the power [miraculous ability, divine strength] of His resurrection [standing up again from death, revival] and the fellowship [partnership, communion] of His sufferings [hardship, affliction, pain], being conformed [made like, transformed] to Him in His death [physical and spiritual surrender, sacrifice], word study 11 and so [if by any means], somehow, to attain [reach, arrive at] to the resurrection [rising again, revival] from the dead [lifeless, spiritually deceased, a state of physical or spiritual death]. word study 12 Not that I have already [completely, fully] obtained all this, or have already [become] been made perfect [complete, whole], but I press on [pursue, follow after] to take hold [grasp, seize] of that for which [on account of, because of] Christ Jesus [the Messiah, the Anointed One] took hold [laid hold, grasped] of me. word study 13 Brothers [fellow believers, brethren], I do not consider [reckon, count] myself [personally] yet to have taken hold [grasped, laid hold] of it. But one thing [this one objective] I do: Forgetting [letting go, neglecting] what is behind [in the past, previously] and straining [stretching, reaching] toward what is ahead [before me, in the future], word study 14 I press on [pursue, follow hard] toward the goal [mark, objective] to win the prize [award, reward] of God’s [the supreme deity] heavenly [above, supernal] calling [invitation, summons] in Christ [the anointed, Messiah] Jesus [God is salvation]. word study 15 All of us who are [spiritually] mature [perfect, complete] should embrace [think, reason] this point of view [be thus minded]. And if you think [reason, have a different mind] differently [otherwise] about some issue [thing], God [the one true deity] will reveal [disclose, uncover] this to you as well [also]. word study 16 Nevertheless [however, but], we must live up [walk in line with, proceed] to what [the level, standard] we have already attained [reached, arrived at]. word study 17 Join one another [together, as fellow believers] in following my example [as a pattern to imitate], brothers [fellow Christians], and carefully observe [watch out, pay attention to] those who walk [live, conduct their lives] according to the pattern [example, model] we set [have given, provided] for you [as a standard to follow]. word study 18 For as I have often [frequently, many times] told you before, and now say again even with [deep sorrow, weeping] tears: Many [a large number, numerous] live as [opposed to, hostile towards] enemies [those who hate, oppose] of the cross [the instrument of crucifixion] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]. word study 19 Their end [result, outcome, destruction] is destruction [perdition, loss, eternal ruin], their god [object of worship, belly, physical desires] is their belly [stomach, physical appetites], and their glory [pride, honor, praise] is in their shame [disgrace, humiliation, sinful nature]. Their minds [thoughts, reasoning, intellect] are set on earthly [worldly, temporal, fleshly] things [concerns, desires, pursuits]. word study 20 But our citizenship [as members of God’s community, in a spiritual sense] is in heaven [the sky and God’s home], and we eagerly await [expect with anticipation, look for] a Savior [deliverer, rescuer from harm] from there, the Lord [master, one in authority] Jesus [God is salvation] Christ [the anointed, Messiah], word study 21 who, by the power [enabling Him to subject all things to Himself, according to His active energy] that enables Him to subject all things [everything, the entire universe] to Himself, will transform [change, fashion anew] our lowly [humble, vile] bodies [our physical persons, our human forms] to be like [conformed to, similar to] His glorious [resplendent, full of glory] body [His physical person, His divine form]. word study