philippians-3:13-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:12-14

The Christian race: conditions of victory. 1 . The recognition that we are not yet conquerors, and that every effort on our part is necessary if we would secure the prize. 2 . The knowledge that we are not running the race in our own strength, but that. we are seeking to seize upon a victory already designed for us. When we realize that Christ has grasped us we know that we are being upheld by him, and our confidence of final victory is no longer in ourselves, but in him. 3 . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:12-16

St. Paul's humility. I. HE HAS NOT YET ATTAINED ; HE IS NOT PERFECT . 1 . The most advanced Christian is always the humblest. The nearer we draw to Christ, the more we feel our own unworthiness. The light of Christ's holiness, manifested in the hearts of his saints, brings out into clearer light the exceeding sinfulness of sin. 2 . But he is striving after perfection. The Christian knows his own weakness and sin, but he knows also that he is really following... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:12-16

The river of forgetfulness. Paul has sketched in the preceding verses what we may call his spiritual programme. Much of the attainment lies before him still, so much, in fact, that he lives in the future instead of in the past. His life is a race towards a goal. Now, just as in a race the runner forgets the ground gone over in his occupation with the remainder and the goal, so, in the spiritual life, there is a forgetfulness essential to progress. There is a river of Lethe in the city of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended ; rather, perhaps, I reckon. Two of the best manuscripts read "not yet" ( οὔπω ). The pronouns are emphatic: whatever others may think of me or of themselves, "I reckon not myself to have apprehended.'' But this one thing . The ellipse here is forcible; some supply "I reckon;" others, "I say;" others, as A.V., "I do," which seems best suited to the context. I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:13

Forward. Like the runner who will lose the prize if he mistake any point short of the goal for the end, or if he waste his time in looking back on the course traversed, the Christian must press forward with his face towards Christ, unresting till the great race is won. I. WE MUST NOT CONSIDER ANY PRESENT ATTAINMENT SUFFICIENT , St, Paul was no novice when he wrote this Epistle. An old man, rich and ripe in many graces, far and away beyond the experience of most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus ; rather, with the best manuscripts, unto the prize. The first preposition, "towards," expresses the aim; the second, "unto," the end of the race. The high calling ; the upward, heavenward calling. God is calling us all upward, heavenward, by the voice of the Lord Jesus, who is the Word of God. Comp. Hebrews 2:1 , "Partakers of the heavenly calling." The words, "in Christ Jesus," are to be taken with... 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 3:13-14

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:12-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:12-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:12-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:14

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

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

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

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:1-16

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