Straining Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already (A)obtained this or (B)am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: (C)forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for (D)the prize of the upward (E)call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are (F)mature think this way, and if in anything (G)you think otherwise, (H)God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only (I)let us hold true to what we have attained.

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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