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Warning Against Evil Workers

¹ Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, but is a safeguard for you. ² Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the mutilation.^{[a] 3} For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship^[b] by the Spirit^[c] of God and boast in Christ Jesus and do not put confidence in the flesh, ⁴ although I could have confidence even in the flesh.

Righteousness Through Christ

If anyone else thinks to put confidence in the flesh, I can do so more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day^[d], from the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born from Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee, ⁶ according to zeal persecuting the church, according to the righteousness in the law being blameless. ⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have considered loss because of Christ. ⁸ More than that^[e], I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them^[f] dung, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and may be found in him, not having my righteousness which is from the law, but which is through faith in Christ,^[g] the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,^{[h] 10} so that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, ¹¹ if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. ¹² Not that I have already received this,^[i] or have already been made perfect, but I press on if indeed I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ.^{[j] 13} Brothers, I do not consider myself to have laid hold of it.^[k] But I do one thing, forgetting the things behind and straining toward the things ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Imitate Paul

¹⁵ Therefore as many as are perfect, let us hold this opinion^[l], and if you think anything differently, God will reveal this also to you. ¹⁶ Only to what we have attained, to the same hold on. ¹⁷ Become fellow imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who walk in this way, just as you have us as an example. ¹⁸ For many live, of whom I spoke about to you many times, but now speak about even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose God is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, the ones who think on earthly things. ²⁰ For our commonwealth exists in heaven, from which also we eagerly await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our humble body to be conformed to his glorious body, in accordance with the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.