Saints Translation

By Vincent Melli

Philippians — Greek text and reception

ApostleResolute pursuit

Philippians 3 — Greek text and reception

Saints Translation: Philippians 1–4 [V2]

Each card preserves the Greek reading and its textual and reception notes. This source provides a Greek study edition; Hebrew counterparts and Hebrew–Greek classifications are not supplied.

Chapter 3

Loss and gain in Christ

Verse 3:1

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me, and is a safeguard for you.

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:2

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Watch out for the dogs; watch out for the evil workers; watch out for the mutilation.

Textual & Reception Notes

The three sharp warnings retain the source’s polemic. Mutilation, katatomē, deliberately contrasts with circumcision, peritomē, in 3:3; no modern ethnic group is supplied as its target.

Verse 3:3

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:4

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

though I myself have grounds for confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he can be confident in the flesh, I more:

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:5

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew from Hebrews; as to law, a Pharisee;

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:6

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

as to zeal, persecuting the Church; as to righteousness in law, having become blameless.

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:7

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

But whatever things were gains to me, these I have considered loss because of Christ.

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:8

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Indeed, I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I suffered the loss of all things, and consider them refuse, so that I may gain Christ

Textual & Reception Notes

Skybala denotes refuse and can include dung. Refuse preserves the force of discarding what was once valued, while the stronger lexical possibility remains visible.

Verse 3:9

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from law but that through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,

Textual & Reception Notes

Greek faith of Christ is taken objectively as faith in Christ. Christ’s faithfulness is another possible genitive interpretation, as in Galatians.

Verse 3:10

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

to know Him and the power of His resurrection and fellowship in His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:11

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Textual & Reception Notes

Pursuing the goal

Verse 3:12

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Not that I have already obtained it or have already been perfected, but I pursue, if indeed I may take hold, because I too was taken hold of by Christ.

Textual & Reception Notes

Because takes eph’ hō causally; for which, relating pursuit to the purpose for which Christ took hold of Paul, is another possible connection. Text [G]: Christ, without added Jesus.

Text [G]: NA28 reads Χριστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ] in brackets (SBLGNT Χριστοῦ); the rendering above follows SBLGNT, and NA28 would read "by Christ Jesus".[G]

Verse 3:13

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold. But one thing: forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things ahead,

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:14

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

I pursue toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:15

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

So as many as are mature, let us think this way; and if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.

Textual & Reception Notes

Teleioi is mature here, in contrast with already perfected at 3:12. The related words are not flattened into a claim that Paul has already achieved final perfection.

Verse 3:16

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Only, as far as we have attained, let us keep in step with the same course.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The source ends with keeping in step with the same. Course is supplied to make the expression readable; no additional same rule / same mind clause is present.

Citizenship in the heavens

Verse 3:17

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Become fellow imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who walk in this way, just as you have us as a pattern.

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:18

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even with tears, as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:19

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and their glory is in their shame; they set their minds on earthly things.

Textual & Reception Notes

Verse 3:20

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

For our citizenship is in the heavens, from which we also eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Textual & Reception Notes

Politeuma is citizenship or commonwealth; it is related to the civic conduct verb at 1:27.

Verse 3:21

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

who will transform the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of His glory, according to the working by which He is able even to subject all things to Himself.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: NA28 reads αὐτῷ (SBLGNT ἑαυτῷ); the rendering above follows SBLGNT, and NA28 would read "to Him" (though αὐτῷ can carry the reflexive sense).