"Be content, brethren, to follow my example, and mark well those who live by the pattern we have given them; I have told you often, and now tell you again with tears, that there are many whose lives make them the enemies of Christ’s cross. Perdition is the end that awaits them, their own hungry bellies are the god they worship, their own shameful doings are their pride; their minds are set on the things of earth; whereas we find our true home in heaven. It is to heaven that we look expectantly for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to save us; he will form this humbled body of ours anew, moulding it into the image of his glorified body, so effective is his power to make all things obey him. Then, O my brethren, so greatly loved and longed for, all my delight and prize, stand firmly in the Lord, beloved, as I bid you."
Footnotes:
- Philippians 3:16 The words ‘all be of the same mind’ do not appear in the best Greek manuscripts.
NAB:
"Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers, and observe
those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in
us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is
destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their
“shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship
is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection
to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long
for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord."
Footnotes:
* [3:16] Some manuscripts add,
probably to explain Paul’s cryptic phrase, “thinking alike.”
* [3:17–21] Paul and those who live a
life centered in Christ, envisaging both his suffering and resurrection, provide
a model that is the opposite of opponents who reject Christ’s cross (cf. 1 Cor 1:23).
* [3:17] Being
imitators of me: not arrogance, but humble simplicity, since all his
converts know that Paul is wholly dedicated to imitating Christ (1 Cor 11:1; cf. also Phil 4:9; 1 Thes 1:6; 2 Thes 3:7, 9; 1 Cor 4:6).
* [3:20] Citizenship: Christians constitute a colony of heaven, as
Philippi was a colonia of Rome (Acts 16:12). The hope Paul
expresses involves the final coming of Christ, not a status already attained,
such as the opponents claim.
1 comment:
I was just thinking that here we have two different English translations from two different traditions and times; one by a man and the other by a committee. That's a lot of background to consider.
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