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1. And now, my brothers and sisters, be filled with joy in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again. I want to be sure that you are prepared.
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1. Finally G3063 , my G3450 brethren G80 , rejoice G5463 in G1722 the Lord G2962 . To write G1125 the G3588 same things G846 to you G5213 , to me G1698 indeed G3303 is not G3756 grievous G3636 , but G1161 for you G5213 it is safe G804 .
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2. Be careful of the dogs�those people whose work does no one any good. They want to cut off everyone who isn't circumcised.
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2. Beware G991 of dogs G2965 , beware G991 of evil G2556 workers G2040 , beware G991 of the G3588 concision G2699 .
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3. But we are the ones who have the true circumcision �we who worship God through his Spirit. We don't trust in ourselves or anything we can do. We take pride only in Christ Jesus.
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3. For G1063 we G2249 are G2070 the G3588 circumcision G4061 , which worship G3000 God G2316 in the spirit G4151 , and G2532 rejoice G2744 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 , and G2532 have no confidence G3982 G3756 in G1722 the flesh G4561 .
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4. Even if I am able to trust in myself, still I don't do it. If anyone else thinks they have a reason to trust in themselves, they should know that I have a greater reason for doing so.
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4. Though G2539 I G1473 might also G2532 have G2192 confidence G4006 in G1722 the flesh G4561 . If any G1536 other man G243 thinketh G1380 that he hath whereof he might trust G3982 in G1722 the flesh G4561 , I G1473 more G3123 :
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5. I was circumcised on the eighth day after my birth. I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a true Jew, and so were my parents. The law was very important to me. That is why I became a Pharisee.
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5. Circumcised G4061 the eighth day G3637 , of G1537 the stock G1085 of Israel G2474 , of the tribe G5443 of Benjamin G958 , a Hebrew G1445 of G1537 the Hebrews G1445 ; as touching G2596 the law G3551 , a Pharisee G5330 ;
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6. I was such a fanatic that I persecuted the church. And no one could find fault with how I always obeyed the law.
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6. Concerning G2596 zeal G2205 , persecuting G1377 the G3588 church G1577 ; touching G2596 the righteousness G1343 which G3588 is in G1722 the law G3551 , blameless G273 .
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7. At one time all these things were important to me. But because of Christ, I decided that they are worth nothing.
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7. But G235 what things G3748 were G2258 gain G2771 to me G3427 , those G5023 I counted G2233 loss G2209 for G1223 Christ G5547 .
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8. Not only these things, but now I think that all things are worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Christ, I lost all these things, and now I know that they are all worthless trash. All I want now is Christ.
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8. Yea G235 doubtless G3304 , and G2532 I count G2233 all things G3956 but G1511 loss G2209 for G1223 the G3588 excellency G5242 of the G3588 knowledge G1108 of Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 my G3450 Lord G2962 : for G1223 whom G3739 I have suffered the loss G2210 of all things G3956 , and G2532 do count G2233 them G1511 but dung G4657 , that G2443 I may win G2770 Christ G5547 ,
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9. I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in Christ to make me right with him.
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9. And G2532 be found G2147 in G1722 him G846 , not G3361 having G2192 mine own G1699 righteousness G1343 , which G3588 is of G1537 the law G3551 , but G235 that G3588 which is through G1223 the faith G4102 of Christ G5547 , the G3588 righteousness G1343 which is of G1537 God G2316 by G1909 faith G4102 :
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10. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death.
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10. That I may know G1097 him G846 , and G2532 the G3588 power G1411 of his G846 resurrection G386 , and G2532 the G3588 fellowship G2842 of his G846 sufferings G3804 , being made conformable G4833 unto his G846 death G2288 ;
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11. Then there is hope that I myself will somehow be raised from death.
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11. If by any means G1513 I might attain G2658 unto G1519 the G3588 resurrection G1815 of the G3588 dead G3498 .
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12. I don't mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That's what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his.
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12. Not G3756 as though G3754 I had already G2235 attained G2983 , either G2228 were already perfect G5048 G2235 : but G1161 I follow after G1377 , if that G1499 I may apprehend G2638 that for G1909 which G3739 also G2532 I am apprehended G2638 of G5259 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 .
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13. Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me.
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13. Brethren G80 , I G1473 count G3049 not G3756 myself G1683 to have apprehended G2638 : but G1161 this one thing G1520 I do, forgetting G1950 those things which are behind G3694 G3303 , and G1161 reaching forth G1901 unto those things which are before G1715 ,
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14. I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.
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14. I press G1377 toward G2596 the mark G4649 for G1909 the G3588 prize G1017 of the G3588 high G507 calling G2821 of God G2316 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 .
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15. All of us who have grown to be spiritually mature should think this way too. And if there is any of this that you don't agree with, God will make it clear to you.
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15. Let us therefore G3767 , as many as G3745 be perfect G5046 , be thus minded G5426 G5124 : and G2532 if in any thing G1536 ye be otherwise minded G5426 G2088 , God G2316 shall reveal G601 even G2532 this G5124 unto you G5213 .
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16. But we should continue following the truth we already have.
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16. Nevertheless G4133 , whereto G1519 G3739 we have already attained G5348 , let us walk G4748 by the G3588 same G846 rule G2583 , let us mind G5426 the G3588 same thing G846 .
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17. Brothers and sisters, join together in following my example. Also, learn by watching those who are living the way we showed you.
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17. Brethren G80 , be G1096 followers together G4831 of me G3450 , and G2532 mark G4648 them which walk G4043 so G3779 as G2531 ye have G2192 us G2248 for an example G5179 .
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18. There are many who live like enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you about them. And it makes me cry to tell you about them now.
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18. ( For G1063 many G4183 walk G4043 , of whom G3739 I have told G3004 you G5213 often G4178 , and G1161 now G3568 tell G3004 you even G2532 weeping G2799 , that they are the G3588 enemies G2190 of the G3588 cross G4716 of Christ G5547 :
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19. The way they live is leading them to destruction. They have replaced God with their own desires. They do shameful things, and they are proud of what they do. They think only about earthly things.
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19. Whose G3739 end G5056 is destruction G684 , whose G3739 God G2316 is their belly G2836 , and G2532 whose glory G1391 is in G1722 their G846 shame G152 , who mind G5426 earthly things G1919 .)
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20. But the government that rules us is in heaven. We are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from there.
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20. For G1063 our G2257 conversation G4175 is G5225 in G1722 heaven G3772 ; from G1537 whence G3739 also G2532 we look for G553 the Savior G4990 , the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 :
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21. He will change our humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body. Christ can do this by his power, with which he is able to rule everything.
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21. Who G3739 shall change G3345 our G2257 vile G5014 body G4983 , that it G846 may be fashioned G1096 like unto G4832 his G846 glorious G1391 body G4983 , according G2596 to the G3588 working G1753 whereby G3588 he G846 is able G1410 even G2532 to subdue G5293 all things G3956 unto himself G1438 .
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