Philippians 3:13 - Exposition

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 those things which are before . St. Paul concentrates all his thoughts and all his energies on the one great end of life, the one thing needful. He forgets those things which are behind; that is, not, as some explain, his Jewish privileges and distinctions, but that part of his Christian race already past. So Chrysostom, καὶ γὰρ ὁ δρομεὺς οὐχ ὅσους ἤνυσεν ἀναλογίζεται διαύλους ἀλλ ὅσους λείπεται … τί γὰρ ἡμᾶς ὠφελεῖ τὸ ἀνυσθὲν ὅταν τὸ λειπόμενον μὴ προστεθῇ ; Reaching forth. The Greek word μὴ προστεθῇ ; is singularly emphatic: it means that the athlete throws himself forward in the race with all his energies strained to the very utmost. Compare Bengel, " Oculus manum, manus pedem praevertit et trahit. "