2Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil3:2 2Co 13:7 workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh.

3For we are the circumcision,3:3 Gl 6:15 the ones who worship by the Spirit3:3 Rm 8:4; Gl 5:25; 1Tm 3:16 of God, boast in Christ Jesus,3:3 Rm 16:7; Eph 2:6; Php 1:1,15; 1Pt 5:14 and do not put confidence in the flesh — 

4although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

5circumcised the eighth day;3:5 Gn 17:12,25; 21:4; Lv 12:3; Lk 1:59; 2:21 of the nation of Israel,3:5 Rm 9:6 of the tribe of Benjamin,3:5 Ps 68:27 a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law,3:5 Ac 5:34; 22:3; Gl 1:14; 5:4 a Pharisee;

6regarding zeal,3:6 Rm 10:2 persecuting3:6 Ac 22:2–5; 26:9–11; 1Co 15:9; Gl 1:13; 1Tm 1:13; 2Tm 3:12 the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law,3:6 Rm 3:21; 9:31; 10:4–5; Gl 2:21; 3:21 blameless.3:6 Lk 1:6; Rm 7:9–10

7But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

8More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value3:8 Php 2:3 of knowing Christ3:8 Jn 17:3; 2Co 4:6; Gl 4:8–9; Php 1:15; Col 2:2; 1Jn 4:8 Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ3:8 1Pt 3:1

9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law,3:9 Rm 10:5 but one that is through faith in Christ3:9 Or through the faithfulness of Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith.3:9 Rm 3:22; 10:4; Gl 2:21; Heb 11:7

10My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings,3:10 Rm 8:17; 2Co 1:5–7; Col 1:24; 1Pt 4:13; 5:1,9 being conformed to his death,3:10 Rm 6:5; 8:36; 2Co 4:7–12; 12:9–10; Gl 6:17

11assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.