Philippians 3:12-14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philippians 3:12

Not as though I had already attained - This verse and the two following are full of allusions to the Grecian races. “The word rendered ‘attained’ signifies, to have arrived at the goal and won the prize, but without having as yet received it” - The Pictorial Bible. The meaning here is, I do not pretend to have attained to what I wish or hope to be. He had indeed been converted; he had been raised up from the death of sin; he had been imbued with spiritual life and peace; but there was a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended - That is, to have obtained that for which I have been called into the service of the Redeemer. There is something which I strive after which I have not yet gained. This statement is a confirmation of the opinion that in the previous verse, where he says that he was not “already perfect,” he includes a moral perfection, and not merely the obtainment of the prize or reward; for no one could suppose that he meant to be understood as saying that he... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark - As he who was running a race did. The “mark” means properly the object set up at a distance at which one looks or aims, and hence the goal, or post which was set up at the end of a race-course, and which was to be reached in order that the prize might be won. Here it means that which is at the end of the Christian race - in heaven.For the prize - The prize of the racer was a crown or garland of olive, laurel, pine, or apple; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:24. The... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Philippians 3:12

Philippians 3:12. Not as though I had already attained Ουχ οτι ηδη ελαβον , literally, not that I have already received, namely, the blessings which I am in pursuit of, even that complete knowledge of Christ, of the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his sufferings, and conformity to his death just mentioned; either were already perfect Τετελειωμαι , perfected, completed: or had finished my course of duty and sufferings. It appears from Philippians 3:15, that there is a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Philippians 3:13-14

Philippians 3:13-14. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended To have already attained those high degrees of holiness, internal and external, of usefulness and conformity to my blessed Master, which I have in view. But this one thing I do I make this my chief business. Or rather, (which the phraseology of the original seems to require,) this one thing I can say, though I cannot say that I have attained what I am aiming at; forgetting those things which are behind Even that... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:1-16

3:1-21 THE WAY TO PERFECTIONPaul’s testimony (3:1-16)At this point Paul repeats warnings that he gave the Philippian church some time earlier concerning Judaisers. He calls the Judaisers ‘dogs’ because they like to ‘cut the flesh’ of people; that is, they insist that they must circumcise Gentiles before those Gentiles can be saved. The true people of God, whom Paul calls the ‘true circumcision’, are not those who have carried out a ceremony to put a mark in their bodies, but those who have... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philippians 3:12

as though = that. had. Omit. attained = received. perfect = perfected. App-125 . follow after . Same as Philippians 3:6 (persecuting), and Philippians 3:14 (press). apprehend . Greek. katalambano. See John 1:5 .Ephesians 3:18 , The Greek adds "also", for. App-104 . also , Read after "apprehended". am = was. of = by. App-104 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philippians 3:13

not . Many texts read "not yet". reaching forth . Greek. epekteinomai. Only here. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philippians 3:14

press . Same as "follow after", Philippians 3:12 . toward App-104 . mark . Greek. skopos . Only here. for . App-104 ., but the texts rend eis ( App-104 .), prize . Greek. brabeion. Only here and 1 Corinthians 9:24 . high calling = the calling above, or on high (Greek. ano , see John 8:23 ). No shout, or voice of archangel or trampet here, as in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Philippians 3:12

Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.Not that I have already obtained ... Paul never viewed the Christian prize of eternal salvation as being something that one might "get" in any final and irrevocable act. The Pauline view, in evidence here, was that the Christian life was a race to be won, a life to be lived, a course to he completed, and that no one ever had it made... read more

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