New Testament · Philippians

Philippians 3

Righteousness through Faith in Messiah

(Romans 3:21–31)

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3for we are the circumcision, who worship in the spirit^a of God and glory in Messiah Yeshua and put no confidence in flesh^b, 4although I myself might have confidence even in flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in flesh, I far more: 5circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law^c, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the ekklesia; as to the righteousness^e which is in the law, found blameless.^d

7But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Messiah. 8More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of the knowledge^f of Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Messiah, 9and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

10that I may know Him and the power^g of His resurrection and the fellowship^h of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on toward the Goal

12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Messiah Yeshua. 13Brothers, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua.

15Let us therefore, as many as are mature, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained; let us be of the same mind.

Citizenship in Heaven

17Brothers, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the crossⁱ of Messiah, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

20For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Yeshua Messiah;^j 21who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the working^k of His being able to subject all things to Himself.^l