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

12 Not that I have already received this,[a] or have already been made perfect, but I press on if indeed I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ.[b] 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have laid hold of it.[c] But I do one thing, forgetting the things behind and straining toward the things ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Imitate Paul

15 Therefore as many as are perfect, let us hold this opinion[d], and if you think anything differently, God will reveal this also to you. 16 Only to what we have attained, to the same hold on.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:12 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  2. Philippians 3:12 Some manuscripts have “Christ Jesus”
  3. Philippians 3:13 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  4. Philippians 3:15 Literally “let us think this”