1 Finally, my brothers,^{1 r}rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the ^sdogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who ^tmutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the ^ucircumcision, who ^vworship by the Spirit of God² and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the ^wflesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. ^xIf anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the ^yeighth day, ^zof the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a ^aHebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a ^bPharisee; 6 as to ^czeal, a ^dpersecutor of the church; as to ^erighteousness under the law,³ blameless. 7 But whatever ^fgain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, ^gI count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. ^hFor his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a ⁱrighteousness of my own that comes from the law, but ^jthat which comes through ^kfaith in Christ, the ^lrighteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the ^mpower of his resurrection, and may ⁿshare his sufferings, ^obecoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may ^pattain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already ^qperfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: ^rforgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 ^sI press on toward the goal for the ^tprize of the upward ^ucall of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are ^vmature think this way, and if in anything ^wyou think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

17 Brothers, ^xjoin in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 ^yTheir end is destruction, their god is their ^zbelly, and they glory in their shame, with ^aminds set on earthly things. 20 But ^bour citizenship is ^cin heaven, and ^dfrom it we ^eawait a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will ^ftransform our ^glowly body to be ^hlike his ⁱglorious body, ^jby the power that enables him even to subject ^kall things to himself.