1Finally, 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.
2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4Though 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: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea 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 dung, that I may win Christ, 9And 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: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12Not 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. 13Brethren, 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, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18(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: 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who 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.
認識基督最寶貴
1弟兄姊妹，你們要靠主喜樂！我再把這些事寫給你們，對我來說並不麻煩，對你們卻有好處。 2你們要提防那些犬類，那些作惡的人，那些鼓吹必須受割禮3·2 「割禮」參見創世記17章；希臘文用誇張的字眼描述割禮，有諷刺之意。才能得救的人。 3因為真正受割禮的人是我們這些靠著上帝的靈敬拜、以基督耶穌為榮、不倚靠自身條件的人。 4其實我也可以靠自身的條件。如果別人覺得可以靠自身的條件，我更可以。 5我出生後第八天就受了割禮，我是以色列人，屬於便雅憫支派，是道道地地的希伯來人。論守律法，我是法利賽人； 6論熱心，我曾經迫害教會；論律法要求的義，我是無可指責的。 7但是為了基督，我從前以為有價值的，現在認為毫無價值。 8不但如此，我看萬事都毫無價值，因為認識我主基督耶穌最寶貴。我為祂失去了一切，我把失去的一切視為垃圾，好得到基督， 9與祂聯合。我成為義人不是因為遵行律法，而是因為信靠基督。這義從上帝而來，以信為基礎。 10我渴望認識基督和祂復活的大能，與祂一同受苦，甚至到死的地步3·10 「甚至到死的地步」或譯「效法祂的死」。， 11這樣我無論如何都可以從死裡復活。
直奔標竿
12這並不是說我已經得到了或者純全了，我還要竭力追求，或者可以達到基督耶穌要我達到的目標。 13弟兄姊妹，我並非以為自己已經得到了，我只專注一件事，就是忘記背後，努力向前， 14直奔目標，要贏得上帝藉著基督耶穌從天上呼召我去得的獎賞。 15我們中間成熟的基督徒都應該有這樣的看法。即使你們在什麼事上看法不同，上帝也必讓你們明白。 16然而，我們長進到什麼程度，就照著什麼程度去行。
17弟兄姊妹，你們要一同效法我，也要向那些以我們為榜樣的人學習。 18我已經多次告訴你們，現在又流著淚提醒你們：有許多人行事為人與基督的十字架為敵。 19他們的神就是自己的肚腹，他們以自己的羞恥為榮，只想著地上的事，他們的結局是滅亡。 20我們卻是天上的國民，殷切等候從天降臨的救主，就是主耶穌基督。 21那時，祂要以降服萬物的大能將我們這卑賤的軀體改變成像祂那樣榮耀的身體。
