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.
Hakuna Tumaini Katika Mwili
13:1 Flp 2:18; 4:4Hatimaye, ndugu zangu, furahini katika Bwana! Mimi kuwaandikia mambo yale yale hakuniudhi, kwa maana ni kinga kwa ajili yenu.
23:2 Za 22:16, 20Jihadharini na mbwa, wale watenda maovu, jihadharini na wale wajikatao miili yao, wasemao ili kuokoka ni lazima kutahiriwa. 33:3 Gal 3:15; Kol 2:11Kwa maana sisi ndio tulio tohara, sisi tumwabuduo Mungu katika Roho, tunaona fahari katika Kristo Yesu, ambao hatuweki tumaini letu katika mwili, 43:4 2Kor 11:21; 11:8, 22ingawa mimi mwenyewe ninazo sababu za kuutumainia mwili.
Kama mtu yeyote akidhani anazo sababu za kuutumainia mwili, mimi zaidi. 53:5 Lk 1:59; 2Kor 11:22; Rum 11:1; Mdo 23:6Nilitahiriwa siku ya nane, mimi ni Mwisraeli wa kabila la Benyamini, Mwebrania wa Waebrania. Kwa habari ya sheria, ni Farisayo, 63:6 Mdo 8:3; Rum 10:5kwa habari ya juhudi, nilikuwa nalitesa kanisa, kuhusu haki ipatikanayo kwa sheria, mimi nilikuwa sina hatia.
73:7 Mt 13:44; Lk 14:33Lakini mambo yale yaliyokuwa faida kwangu, sasa nayahesabu kuwa hasara kwa ajili ya Kristo. 83:8 Yer 9:23, 24; Yn 17:3Zaidi ya hayo, nayahesabu mambo yote kuwa hasara tupu nikiyalinganisha na faida kubwa ipitayo kiasi cha kumjua Kristo Yesu Bwana wangu, ambaye kwa ajili yake nimepata hasara ya mambo yote, nikiyahesabu kuwa kama mavi ili nimpate Kristo. 93:9 Rum 10:5; 9:30Nami nionekane mbele zake bila kuwa na haki yangu mwenyewe ipatikanayo kwa sheria, bali ile ipatikanayo kwa imani katika Kristo, haki ile itokayo kwa Mungu kwa njia ya imani. 103:10 Rum 8:17; 6:3-5Nataka nimjue Kristo na uweza wa kufufuka kwake na ushirika wa mateso yake, ili nifanane naye katika mauti yake, 113:11 Yn 11:24; Rum 6:5; Ufu 20:5, 6ili kwa njia yoyote niweze kufikia ufufuo wa wafu.
Kukaza Mwendo Ili Kufikia Lengo
12Si kwamba nimekwisha kufikia, au kwamba nimekwisha kuwa mkamilifu, la hasha! Bali nakaza mwendo ili nipate kile ambacho kwa ajili yake, nimeshikwa na Kristo Yesu. 133:13 Lk 9:22Ndugu zangu, sijihesabu kuwa nimekwisha kushika. Lakini ninafanya jambo moja: Ninasahau mambo yale yaliyopita, nakaza mwendo kufikia yale yaliyo mbele. 143:14 Ebr 6:1; 1Kor 9:24; Rum 8:28Nakaza mwendo nifikie ile alama ya ushindi iliyowekwa ili nipate tuzo ya mwito mkuu wa Mungu ambao nimeitiwa huko juu mbinguni katika Kristo Yesu.
153:15 1Kor 2:6; Gal 5:10; Efe 1:17; 1The 4:9Hivyo sisi sote tuliokuwa kiroho tuwaze jambo hili, hata mkiwaza mengine katika jambo lolote, Mungu ataliweka wazi hilo nalo. 163:16 Gal 6:16; Rum 12:16; 15:15; Flp 2:2Lakini na tushike sana lile ambalo tumekwisha kulifikia.
173:17 1Kor 4:16; Tit 3:12Ndugu zangu, kwa pamoja fuateni mfano wangu na kuwatazama wale wanaofuata kielelezo tulichowawekea. 183:18 Mdo 20:31; Gal 6:12Kwa maana, kama nilivyokwisha kuwaambia mara nyingi kabla, nami sasa nasema tena hata kwa machozi, watu wengi wanaishi kama adui wa msalaba wa Kristo. 193:19 Za 73:17; Rum 16:18; 5:21; Yud 13; Rum 8:5, 6; Kol 3:2Mwisho wa watu hao ni maangamizi, Mungu wao ni tumbo, na utukufu wao ni aibu, na mawazo yao yamo katika mambo ya dunia. 203:20 Efe 2:19; Kol 3:1; Ebr 12:22; 1Kor 1:7Lakini uenyeji wetu uko mbinguni. Nasi tunamngoja kwa shauku Mwokozi kutoka huko, yaani, Bwana Yesu Kristo, 213:21 Efe 1:19; 1Kor 15:43-53; Rum 8:29; Kol 3:4atakayeubadili mwili wetu wa unyonge, ili upate kufanana na mwili wake wa utukufu, kwa uweza ule ambao kwa huo aweza hata kuvitiisha vitu vyote chini yake.
