PHP 3:1-11

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and is a safeguard for you.

2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.

3For we are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh —

4though I myself could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I more:

5circumcised on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews — according to the law, a Pharisee;

6according to zeal, persecuting the assembly; according to righteousness in the law, found blameless.

7But whatever things were gain to me, these I have counted as loss on account of Christ.

8Indeed, I even count all things as loss on account of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord — on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse — so that I may gain Christ

9and be found in him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God upon faith —

10to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,

11if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

In the world it was spoken into

In Philippi, a Roman colony with a mixed population of Gentiles and Jews, the term 'dogs' would have carried a sharp cultural edge. For Jews, it was a derogatory term for Gentiles, implying exclusion from God’s covenant. Here, Paul subverts this by applying it to those insisting on circumcision as a marker of righteousness. The 'false circumcision' is a biting pun, suggesting their physical circumcision is mere mutilation without spiritual significance. Paul contrasts this with 'the circumcision,' those who worship in the Spirit, emphasizing a devotion to Christ over ritual observance. His own credentials—Pharisee, Hebrew of Hebrews—highlight his authority to critique reliance on ethnic or legal markers. The term 'refuse' underscores the worthlessness of such credentials compared to knowing Christ. For Philippian believers, this would challenge both Jewish pride in ancestry and Gentile assumptions about status, redirecting their confidence to faith in Christ alone.

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How other translations render this

PHP 3:1

KJV: Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
BSB: Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
Koinōnos: Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and is a safeguard for you.

PHP 3:2

KJV: Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
BSB: Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
Koinōnos: Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.

PHP 3:3

KJV: For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
BSB: For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
Koinōnos: For we are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh —

PHP 3:4

KJV: Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
BSB: though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
Koinōnos: though I myself could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I more:

PHP 3:5

KJV: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
BSB: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
Koinōnos: circumcised on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews — according to the law, a Pharisee;

PHP 3:6

KJV: Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
BSB: as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
Koinōnos: according to zeal, persecuting the assembly; according to righteousness in the law, found blameless.

PHP 3:7

KJV: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
BSB: But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
Koinōnos: But whatever things were gain to me, these I have counted as loss on account of Christ.

PHP 3:8

KJV: Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
BSB: More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Koinōnos: Indeed, I even count all things as loss on account of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord — on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse — so that I may gain Christ

PHP 3:9

KJV: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
BSB: and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
Koinōnos: and be found in him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God upon faith —

PHP 3:10

KJV: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
BSB: I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,
Koinōnos: to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,

PHP 3:11

KJV: If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
BSB: and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Koinōnos: if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

PHP 3:2

dogs,:The word translated 'dogs' here was a derogatory term in this culture, often used to describe Gentiles or those considered unclean and outside the covenant community.
false circumcision;:The term translated 'false circumcision' is a rare and highly pejorative word, implying mutilation rather than a sacred rite, used to denigrate those who insisted on physical circumcision for salvation.

PHP 3:3

worshiping:The word translated 'worshiping' carried the sense of serving or rendering cultic service, often specifically referring to the service rendered to a deity or in a temple context.

PHP 3:8

rubbish:The word translated 'rubbish' was a very strong term, referring to refuse, dung, or excrement, indicating something utterly worthless and disgusting.