Philippians 3:13
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Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
I--whatever others count as to themselves. He who counts himself perfect, must deceive himself by calling sin infirmity (Jo1 1:8); at the same time, each must aim at perfection, to be a Christian at all (Mat 5:48). forgetting those things . . . behind--Looking back is sure to end in going back (Luk 9:62): So Lot's wife (Luk 17:32). 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 Israel that they go forward" (Exo 14:15). The Bible is our landmark to show us whether we are progressing or retrograding. reaching forth--with hand and foot, like a runner in a race, and the body bent forward. The Christian is always humbled by the contrast between what he is and what he desires to be. The eye reaches before and draws on the hand, the hand reaches before and draws on the foot [BENGEL]. unto--towards (Heb 6:1).
Open source ↗He cautions them against judaizing seducers (Phi 3:1-3) and proposes his own example: and here he enumerates the privileges of his Jewish state which he rejected (Phi 3:4-8), describes the matter of his own choice (Phi 3:9-16), and closes with an exhortation to beware of wicked men, and to follow his example (Phi 3:17-21).
Open source ↗3:13-14 the race: See study note on 2:16. • Paul was willing to give up everything else for the ultimate goal, the heavenly prize of eternal life.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,
But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Listen, O daughter! Consider and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father’s house,