Philippians 3-4

Philippians 3

¹For the rest, my brothers, be glad in the Lord. Writing the same things to you is no trouble to me, and for you it is safe.

²Be on the watch against dogs, against the workers of evil, against those of the circumcision:

³For we are the circumcision, who give worship to God and have glory in Jesus Christ, and have no faith in the flesh:

⁴Even though I myself might have faith in the flesh: if any other man has reason to have faith in the flesh, I have more:

⁵Being given circumcision on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in relation to the law, a Pharisee:

⁶In bitter hate I was cruel to the church; I kept all the righteousness of the law to the last detail.

⁷But those things which were profit to me, I gave up for Christ.

⁸Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward,

⁹And be seen in him, not having my righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

¹⁰That I may have knowledge of him, and of the power of his coming back from the dead, and a part with him in his pains, becoming like him in his death;

¹¹If in any way I may have the reward of life from the dead.

¹²Not as if I had even now got the reward or been made complete: but I go on in the hope that I may come to the knowledge of that for which I was made the servant of Christ Jesus.

¹³Brothers, it is clear to me that I have not come to that knowledge; but one thing I do, letting go those things which are past, and stretching out to the things which are before,

¹⁴I go forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵Then let us all, who have come to full growth, be of this mind: and if in anything you are of a different mind, even this will God make clear to you:

¹⁶Only, as far as we have got, let us be guided by the same rule.

¹⁷Brothers, take me as your example, and take note of those who are walking after the example we have given.

¹⁸For there are those, of whom I have given you word before, and do so now with sorrow, who are haters of the cross of Christ;

¹⁹Whose end is destruction, whose god is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, whose minds are fixed on the things of the earth.

²⁰For our country is in heaven; from where the Saviour for whom we are waiting will come, even the Lord Jesus Christ:

²¹By whom this poor body of ours will be changed into the image of the body of his glory, in the measure of the working by which he is able to put all things under himself.

Philippians 4

¹So my brothers, well loved and very dear to me, my joy and crown, be strong in the Lord, my loved ones.

²I make request to Euodias and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

³And I make request to you, true helper in my work, to see to the needs of those women who took part with me in the good news, with Clement and the rest of my brother-workers whose names are in the book of life.

⁴Be glad in the Lord at all times: again I say, Be glad.

⁵Let your gentle behaviour be clear to all men. The Lord is near.

⁶Have no cares; but in everything with prayer and praise put your requests before God.

⁷And the peace of God, which is deeper than all knowledge, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸For the rest, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things have honour, whatever things are upright, whatever things are holy, whatever things are beautiful, whatever things are of value, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, give thought to these things.

⁹The things which came to you by my teaching and preaching, and which you saw in me, these things do, and the God of peace will be with you.

¹⁰But I am very glad in the Lord that your care for me has come to life again; though you did in fact take thought for me, but you were not able to give effect to it.

¹¹But I will not say anything about my needs, for I am able, wherever I am, to be dependent on myself.

¹²It is the same to me if I am looked down on or honoured; everywhere and in all things I have the secret of how to be full and how to go without food; how to have wealth and how to be in need.

¹³I am able to do all things through him who gives me strength.

¹⁴But you did well to have care for me in my need.

¹⁵And you have knowledge, Philippians, that when the good news first came to you, when I went away from Macedonia, no church took part with me in the business of giving to the saints, but you only;

¹⁶Because even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to me in my need.

¹⁷Not that I am looking for an offering, but for fruit which may be put to your credit.

¹⁸I have all things and more than enough: I am made full, having had from Epaphroditus the things which came from you, a perfume of a sweet smell, an offering well pleasing to God.

¹⁹And my God will give you all you have need of from the wealth of his glory in Christ Jesus.

²⁰Now to God our Father be glory for ever and ever. So be it.

²¹Give words of love to every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their love.

²²All the saints send their love to you, specially those who are of Caesar's house.

²³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.