1 Concerning other things, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is certainly not tiresome for me to write the same things to you, but for you, it is not necessary. 2 Beware of dogs; beware of those who work evil; beware of those who are divisive. 3 For we are the circumcised, we who serve God in the Spirit and who glory in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh. 4 Nevertheless, I might have confidence also in the flesh, for if anyone else seems to have confidence in the flesh, more so do I. 5 For I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew among Hebrews. According to the law, I was a Pharisee; 6 according to zeal, I persecuted the Church of God; according to the justice that is in the law, I lived without blame. 7 But the things which had been to my gain, the same have I considered a loss, for the sake of Christ. 8 Yet truly, I consider everything to be a loss, because of the preeminent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of everything, considering it all to be like dung, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and so that you may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, the justice within faith, which is of God. 10 So shall I know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his Passion, having been fashioned according to his death, 11 if, by some means, I might attain to the resurrection which is from the dead. 12 It is not as though I have already received this, or were already perfect. But rather I pursue, so that by some means I might attain, that in which I have already been attained by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have already attained this. Instead, I do one thing: forgetting those things that are behind, and extending myself toward those things that are ahead, 14 I pursue the destination, the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, as many of us as are being perfected, let us agree about this. And if in anything you disagree, God will reveal this to you also. 16 Yet truly, whatever point we reach, let us be of the same mind, and let us remain in the same rule. 17 Be imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who are walking similarly, just as you have seen by our example. 18 For many persons, about whom I have often told you (and now tell you, weeping,) are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their belly; and their glory is in their shame: for they are immersed in earthly things. 20 But our way of life is in heaven. And from heaven, too, we await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform the body of our lowliness, according to the form of the body of his glory, by means of that power by which he is even able to subject all things to himself.
Philippians · Catholic Public Domain Version
Philippians 3 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
Cross references (21)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Philippians 4:4; Romans 5:11; Ephesians 6:10; Joel 2:23; Psalm 37:4
- 2 2 Corinthians 11:13; Titus 1:16; Revelation 22:15; Isaiah 56:10–11; 2 Timothy 3:1–6
- 3 Colossians 2:11; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 7:6; Galatians 6:13–15; Romans 8:15
- 4 2 Corinthians 11:18–22
- 5 2 Corinthians 11:22; Romans 11:1; Acts 23:6; Acts 26:4–5; Genesis 17:12
- 6 Galatians 1:13–14; Acts 8:3; Acts 26:9–10; Acts 22:3–4; Matthew 5:20
- 7 Luke 14:33; Matthew 16:26; Matthew 13:44–46; Luke 14:26; Proverbs 13:8
- 8 Jeremiah 9:23–24; Romans 8:18; Acts 20:24; Philippians 3:7; John 17:3
- 9 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 2:16; Romans 4:5–6; Romans 4:13–15
- 10 Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 4:1–2; 2 Timothy 2:11–12; Romans 8:17; Romans 6:3–11
- 11 Luke 20:35–36; Revelation 20:5; Acts 23:6; Acts 26:7; Hebrews 11:35
- 12 1 Timothy 6:11–12; 2 Peter 1:5–8; Psalm 138:8; Hosea 6:3; 1 Peter 3:11–13
- 13 Luke 9:62; Hebrews 12:1–2; Philippians 3:12; 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Psalm 27:4
- 14 1 Corinthians 9:24; 1 Peter 5:10; Revelation 3:21; 2 Timothy 4:7–8; Romans 8:28–30
- 15 John 7:17; Galatians 5:10; James 1:4–5; 1 Corinthians 2:6; Proverbs 2:3–6
- 16 Colossians 2:6; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 2:4–5; Hebrews 10:38–39; Romans 15:5
- 17 Philippians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Peter 5:3; 1 Timothy 4:12; Hebrews 13:7
- 18 Ephesians 4:17; Isaiah 8:11; Galatians 6:12; Galatians 1:7; Jeremiah 13:17
- 19 Romans 16:18; Romans 8:5–7; 2 Peter 2:3; Colossians 3:2; Jude 12–13
- 20 Ephesians 2:19; Colossians 3:1–3; 2 Corinthians 4:18–5:1; Hebrews 12:22; 1 Peter 1:3–4
- 21 1 John 3:2; Colossians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 15:42–56; Romans 8:29; John 11:24–26
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Dejection and care, whenever they strain the soul beyond due measure, bereave it of its native force. And therefore Paul relieves the Philippians, who were in great despondency, and they were in despondency because they did not know how matters were with Paul; they were in despondency because they thought that it was already over with him, because of the …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
Of which resurrection the apostle speaks in the Epistle to the Philippians: "Having been made conformable to His death, if by any means I might attain to the resurrection which is from the dead." In what other mortal flesh, therefore, can life be understood as being manifested, unless in that substance which is also put to death on account of …
We then were conversing alone very pleasantly; and, "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before," we were seeking between ourselves in the presence of the Truth, which Thou art, of what nature the eternal life of the saints would be, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
Yet they were at least ashamed when they were naked, but ye take a pride in it; "having," according to that saying of the apostle, "your glory in your shame." How then will thy wife thenceforward look upon thee, when thou art returned from such wickedness?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord alway; again I will say, Rejoice: for your redemption hath drawn nigh, and the heavenly host of the Angels is waiting for your salvation.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)