(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Gain and Loss in the Gospel
- Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. Indeed, it’s not irksome for me to write the same things to you, but it’s without danger1“without danger” is one word in Greek. It comes from two words, the first is a negative prefix, the second means to topple or fall. Thus it means “not falling”, with the connotation of being safe/secure (no danger) because of a secure footing or foundation. to you.
- Beware of the dogs. Beware of the wicked workmen. Beware of the mutilation of circumcision.
- For we are the true circumcision; the men worshipping in God’s Spirit and boasting in Jesus the Anointed and not having *trusted in the flesh,
- although I could have even trusted in the flesh. If some other man thinks to have trusted in the flesh, I could more.
- Circumcised the eighth day, from the nation of Israel (the tribe of Benjamin) a Hebrew of Hebrews. Regarding the law: a Pharisee.
- Regarding zeal: persecuting the church. Regarding righteousness by the law, having become blameless.
- But whatever things were my gain, I *consider these things loss because of the Anointed.
- But more, I therefore also truly consider all things to be a loss because of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus the Anointed, because of whom I lost all things and consider them refuse2“refuse” refers to all kinds of waste that was thrown to dogs (which were reviled in that culture). That included scraps of garbage, leftovers, muck, and even dung in some cases. so I might gain the Anointed,
- and might be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but righteousness through faith in the Anointed; the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,
- to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the partnership in His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
- so somehow I might attain to the resurrection from the dead.
- Not that I already received it, or already have been perfected. But I pursue it so I might seize it, for that’s why I was also seized by Jesus the Anointed.
- Brothers, I don’t consider myself to have seized it. But one thing I indeed do, forgetting the things behind and reaching toward the things ahead,
- I pursue the goal towards the prize of the upward calling of God in Jesus the Anointed.
- Therefore, as many as are mature should have this opinion. And if you have a different opinion in anything, God will reveal this to you also.
- Nevertheless, in what we attained, we are to walk in the same [standard, and to have the same opinion.]
- Brothers, become fellow imitators of me and observe the men walking in this way, just as you have an example in us.
- For many men – of whom I often was telling you, and now weeping I say – many men walk as enemies of the cross of the Anointed,
- men whose end is utter ruin, whose God is the belly and whose glory is in their shame; the men who set their minds on earthly things.
- For our citizenship already exists in the heavens, from which we also eagerly await a savior; the Anointed Lord Jesus,
- who will transform our humble body into conformity with His glorious body by the effective power which even enables Him to submit all things to Himself.
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