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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

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

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 3:13

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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before ...I count not myself yet to have laid hold ... See comment on this same thought expressed at the beginning of Philippians 3:12.Laid hold ... This was a favorite expression with Paul. He viewed the priceless gift of eternal life as a prize to be seized eagerly and without delay, something to be taken with determination never to let... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Philippians 3:13-14

Philippians 3:13-14. Brethren, I count not myself, &c.— No, my brethren, I do not imagine that I am yet arrived at the goal; but this one thing I do: regardless of what is behind, and intent only to reach what is before, I press forward to the mark, for the prize to which God has called me from above by Christ Jesus. Heylin. Mr. Peirce thinks the most exact grammatical construction of the words is this, "I press after that one thing for which I have been apprehended by Jesus Christ, that I... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Philippians 3:13

13. I—whatever others count as to themselves. He who counts himself perfect, must deceive himself by calling sin infirmity (1 John 1:8); at the same time, each must aim at perfection, to be a Christian at all (Matthew 5:48). forgetting those things . . . behind—Looking back is sure to end in going back (Luke 9:62): So Lot's wife (Luke 9:62- :). If in stemming a current we cease pulling the oar against it, we are carried back. God's word to us is as it was to Israel, "Speak unto the children of... read more

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