Reaching Forward to God’s Goal

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold(A) of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not[a] consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(B) and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly[b] call in Christ Jesus.(C) 15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal(D) this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:13 Other mss read not yet
  2. 3:14 Or upward

Pursuing the Goal

12 It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah[a] Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it yet.[b] But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize[c] of God’s heavenly call in the Messiah[d] Jesus.

15 Therefore, those of us who are mature[e] should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you how to think.[f] 16 However, we should live up to what we have achieved so far.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:12 Or Christ
  2. Philippians 3:13 Other mss. omit yet
  3. Philippians 3:14 Lit. the goal for the prize
  4. Philippians 3:14 Or Christ
  5. Philippians 3:15 Or perfect
  6. Philippians 3:15 Lit. show you this