Philippians 3:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philippians 3:9-14

We now heard what the apostle renounced; let us now see what he laid hold on, and resolved to cleave to, namely, Christ and heaven. He had his heart on these two great peculiarities of the Christian religion. I. The apostle had his heart upon Christ as his righteousness. This is illustrated in several instances. 1. He desired to win Christ; and an unspeakable gainer he would reckon himself if he had but an interest in Christ and his righteousness, and if Christ became his Lord and his Saviour:... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 3:12-16

3:12-16 Not that I have already obtained this, or that I am already all complete but I press on to try to grasp that for which I have been grasped by Jesus Christ. Brothers, I do not count myself to have obtained; but this one thing I do--forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching out for the things which are in front, I press on towards the goal, in order that I may win the prize which God's upward calling in Christ Jesus is offering to me. Let all of you who have graduated... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark ,.... The allusion is to the white line, or mark, which the runners in the Olympic games made up to, and to which he that came first received the prize; and by which the apostle intends the Lord Jesus Christ, who is σκοπος , "the scope", or "mark", of all the thoughts, purposes, and counsels of God, to which they all aim, and in which they all centre; and of the covenant of grace of which he is the sum and substance, the Mediator, surety, and messenger, in whom are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark - Κατα σκοπον διωκω· I pursue along the line; this is a reference to the white line that marked the ground in the stadium, from the starting place to the goal, on which the runners were obliged to keep their eye fixed; for they who transgressed or went beyond this line did not run lawfully, and were not crowned, even though they got first to the goal. See the concluding observations on 1 Corinthians 9:27 . What is called σκοπος , mark or scope, here, is called ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1-16

The true circumcision. Contemplated close of the Epistle. "Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." It would seem that, at this point, the apostle contemplated bringing the Epistle to a close. He intimates that, in addition to what he has already said, he has only this further to say. He falls back on what has already been noticed as the key-note of the Epistle. Addressing them as his brethren, he calls upon them to rejoice in the Lord. He recognized no joy but what was in the Lord. We... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:12-14

The apostle's confession of his imperfection and his method of Christian progress. There is a touching and instructive humility in the language of these verses. I. HIS CONFESSION OF IMPERFECTION . "Not as though I had already attained or have been made perfect;" and again," I count not myself to have apprehended." 1 . This argues a high estimate of a Christian ' s duty. There is no inconsistency in the consciousness of hidden imperfection and the thought of a lofty... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:12-14

Moral onwardness. The Grecian racecourse was well known to Paul and to all his readers, and hence he often uses it as a figure to illustrate the Christian life. The subject is spiritual advancement, onwardness in Divine excellence. The words suggest that this progress implies three things. I. A CONSCIOUS DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PRESENT . By this I mean, not dissatisfaction with the events and circumstances of life—Divine providences—this would be foolish and impious, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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