Chapter Three 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.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision, for we are the
circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
and have no confidence in the flesh.
Though 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.
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,
and Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee, concerning zeal,
persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law,
blameless.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea, 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 done, that I may win Christ, and 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, that I may know him,
and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings being
made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead.
Not 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.
Brethren, 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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded, and if in anything ye be
otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,
let us mind the same thing.
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us
for an ensemble.
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, whose end is destruction,
whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly
things.
For our conversation is in heaven, for whence also we look for the Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ, who 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.