JMNT(i)
1 As for the rest (or: For what remains), my brothers (= family; = fellow believers), continue rejoicing (be habitually glad and delighted) within [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh]. To be repeatedly writing the same things to you (or: To continue writing these very things for you) [is] surely not troublesome for me (or: delaying me or causing me to hesitate), and for you [it is] something to secure you from stumbling.
2 Constantly keep your eyes on and be aware of the dogs (= impudent, shameless or audacious people; scavengers without a master); habitually be observing so as to take heed of worthless workers (craftsmen of bad quality; laborers who are not as they ought to be); keep on seeing so as to continually observe and be aware of [the party of] the down-cision (the mutilation; the maimcision; the cutting-into; the sacrificial meat-hacking; the wounding or maiming; or: = folks who cut things down or off; [comment: a sardonic slur = the circumcision]).
3 For you see, we ourselves are (exist being) The Circumcision: the people (or: those) continuously rendering sacred service in a spirit of God (or: by God's Breath-effect; to God's Spirit; with God's breath; [some MSS: service to God in spirit; p46 omits "God," so simply: serving in spirit]) and constantly making our boast (being loud-tongued, vaunting and exulting) within, and in union with, Christ Jesus; even folks (or: those) being people having been persuaded and thus continuing to put no confidence within flesh (= having no reliance upon what is physical: e.g., religious works or natural heritage; or: the estranged human nature; [comment: this could be a reference to animal sacrifices]).
4 Even though I myself continue holding (or: having) [grounds for] trust and confidence also within flesh, if any other man is in the habit of thinking (or: is constantly seeming) or presuming to have come to a settled persuasion, thus having confidence within [his] flesh, I to a greater degree (more so; for a better reason; rather more):
5 in circumcision, on [the] eighth day; out of race (from posterity; by birth; as to class or species), of Israel; of Benjamin's tribe; a Hebrew out of the midst of [the] Hebrews (or: = a supreme Hebrew); in accordance to Law, a Pharisee (or: down from custom, a Pharisee);
6 in accordance to zeal, one constantly pressing, pursuing and persecuting the called-out community; in accordance to fairness and equity in the way pointed out in the Law, one coming to be, of myself, without defect (one becoming blameless).
7 But to the contrary, whatever things (or: things which) were being gains (advantages; assets) to, for or in me, these things I have esteemed and now consider (or: regard) as a loss (a penalty; a forfeit; disadvantage; a bad bargain; a detriment) because of the Christ (or: on account of the Anointed One [= the Messiah]).
8 But further – indeed, then, as a matter of fact – I even am habitually considering (or: regarding) all things (all; everything) to be a loss (a disadvantage; a bad bargain; damage; a forfeit; a penalty) because of (on account of; for the sake of) the thing that is constantly holding things above and thus having all-surpassing value and superiority: that which pertains to and comes from the experience of the intimate knowledge of my Lord, Jesus Christ (or: of Christ Jesus, my Owner) – on account of and for the sake of Whom I undergo loss of (experience the forfeit of; receive as a disadvantage) all things (everything; the whole life-experience, environment and possessions) and I continue considering (or: regarding) them to be [either] a lot of refuse and filth (pieces of dung; a pile of manure) [or] things that are cast away from the table to the dogs (garbage), to the end that I may have the advantage of Christ (or: could maintain the gain of the Anointing; enjoy the assets of or make a profit from [Messiah]),
9 and may be found within Him (or: in union with Him) – not continuing having (or: holding) my pointed-out way (my fairness and equity; my relationships; my basis for what is right; my own righteousness) from out of the Law or custom, but to the contrary, the [fairness and equity which accord with the Way pointed-out] through means of Christ's faithfulness (or: the trust-conviction which is Christ; the faith of and from [the Messiah]): the [covenant] fairness and equity in right relationships from being rightwised within the Way pointed out [which is] forth from out of the midst of God as a source [and is placed and thus based] upon that faith, confidence and trust –
10 to intimately and experientially know Him, and the ability – even the power – of His resurrection and also the [other MSS: a] common existence (participation; partnership, sharing and fellowship) of the results and from the effects of His experiences [note: these include good times/feelings and passions, as well as sufferings] – being a person that is being continuously conformed by (being progressively brought together with the form of; being habitually configured to) His death,
11 since this is how I can fully meet face-to-face, participate and reach into the midst of (or: since in some way I would attain the level [to be] into the midst of; or: if by any means I may arrive and meet with the corresponding sphere [leading] into) the full resurrection (or: the arising and standing back up again from out of the midst; or: the out-resurrection) – the one [arising] forth from out of the midst of dead folks.
12 Not that I already take it by the hand [p46 & D add: or already have been rightwised and made to be one in accord with the Way pointed out with fairness and equity] or have been already brought to the purposed goal and destiny (matured unto perfection and finished), yet I am consistently pursuing (running swiftly in order to catch), since I would (or: if I could) take down by the hand (seize; forcefully grasp and gain control over) even [that] upon which I also was (or: am) taken down by hand (seized; forcefully grasped and taken control of) by and under [the control of] Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers (= Fellow believers; = [My] family)! I am not [other MSS: not yet] calculating (logically considering; reckoning) myself to have taken it down by hand (seized, grasped or gotten hold of it in order to have it), yet [there is] one thing: habitually forgetting, on the one hand, the things behind (or: in the back), and on the other hand constantly reaching and stretching myself out upon the things in front (or: ahead),
14 I am continuously pressing forward, pursuing down toward [the; or: an] object in view (a mark on which the eye is fixed): into the awarded contest prize of God's (or: the award which is God's) invitation to an above place (or: an upward calling having the source from, with qualities and characteristics of, God) within the midst of and in union with Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore – as many as [are] people who are mature (ones who have reached the goal, being finished and complete) – we should constantly be of this frame of mind (have this attitude and opinion; think this way; be minding and paying attention to this). And if you folks are habitually thinking differently (are continuing differently minded; are continually having a different attitude or opinion), God will also proceed in unveiling this to you (or: uncovering and revealing, or disclosing, this in you).
16 Moreover, into that which we precede [others] (or: into what we went before in; into what we come ahead so as to arrive at; = unto whatever stage we have reached) in the very same thing [our goal is] to be habitually drawn into a straight line and consistently advance within our ranks [Aleph2 and other MSS add phrases to read as follows: Besides, into what we outstrip {others}, by the same standard (measuring rod; rule) {it is for us} to habitually advance in line (i.e., frame our conduct in an orderly routine; or: consider the elements and observe the rudimentary principles by the same standard) – to constantly be intent on and keep thinking of the same thing (or: be of the same frame of mind and attitude)].
17 Brothers (= Fellow believers; = My family), be progressively birthed to be joint-imitators of me (or: unite in becoming my imitators), and continually keep a watchful eye on and take note of those habitually walking about thus (i.e., those who thus live their lives), according as you folks continue having us as a pattern (model; example; type).
18 For you see – I was often telling you about them, yet now I am also presently weeping (lamenting) in saying it – many continue walking about (i.e., are living their lives) as enemies of the cross of the Christ (the Anointed One's execution-stake),
19 whose goal (eventual end; closing act; final stage; result; finished discharge) [is] ruin and loss (or: waste and destruction), whose god [is their] cavity (or: belly) and [whose] reputation (or: glory; opinion) resides within their shame (disgrace; embarrassment) – people continually thinking about (habitually being intent on; constantly minding) the things existing upon the earth (or: = folks whose minds are earthbound).
20 You see, our citizenship (result of living in a free city; or: commonwealth-effects; political realm) continues inherently existing (or: continues humbly ruling; continuously subsists; repeatedly has its under-beginning) resident within the midst of [the] atmospheres (or: heavens), from out of where (or: which place) we also continuously receive and take away in our hands from out of a Deliverer (a Savior; One restoring us to the health and wholeness of our original state and condition): [the] Lord (or: a Master), Jesus Christ,
21 Who will continue actively transfiguring (progressively refashioning and remodeling; continuously changing the form of) our body from the low condition and status (or: the body of our humiliation; or: the body which is us, pertaining to this lowliness) [which is] joint-formed in, by and with the body of His glory (or with other MSS: into the [situation] for it to be brought into existence conformed to, and having the same form together with, His body, from that which calls forth praise and has the character of His good reputation]), down from (or: in accord with; in the sphere of; along the lines of; to the level of; following the pattern of; stepping along with; commensurate with; as directed by) the inward operation (energy; in-working) of the [conditions or situation for] Him to be continuously able (or: with power) also to humbly align The Whole to and in Himself (or: to subject and subordinate all things for Himself; to arrange everything under so as to have full control and to support [it] by and with Himself).