1Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble to me to write the same things to you again, and for you it is safe.
2Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of those who cut the flesh.
3For we are the circumcision. We worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.
4Yet I could have confidence in the flesh too. If any other man thinks he has reason to trust in the flesh, I have more:
5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as for the law, a Pharisee;
6as for zeal, I persecuted the church; as for the righteousness that is in the law, I was blameless.
7But the things that were gain to me, I have counted as loss for Christ.
8Yes, and I count everything as loss, because knowing Christ Jesus my Lord is so much better. For him I have suffered the loss of all things, and I count them as dung, so that I may win Christ,
9and be found in him. I do not have a righteousness of my own, which comes from the law. I have the righteousness that is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.
10I want to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and to share in his sufferings, being made like him in his death,
11so that by any means I might reach the resurrection of the dead.
12I do not say that I have already reached it, or that I am already perfect. But I press on, so that I may take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13Brothers and sisters, I do not count myself to have taken hold of it. But this one thing I do: I forget the things that are behind, and reach out to the things that are ahead.
14I press on toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15So let all of us who are perfect think this way. And if in anything you think otherwise, God will make this clear to you too.
16Still, as far as we have already come, let us walk by the same rule, and let us think the same thing.
17Brothers and sisters, follow my example together, and watch those who walk as we do, for you have us as a pattern.
18(For many walk in another way. I have often told you about them, and now I tell you even with tears, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.
19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.)
20For our citizenship is in heaven, and from there we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
21He will change our lowly body, so that it will be made like his glorious body. He will do it by the power with which he is able to bring all things under himself.