12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(A) but I press on to take hold(B) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(C) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(D) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(E) toward the goal to win the prize(F) for which God has called(G) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature(H) should take such a view of things.(I) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.(J) 16 Only let us live up to what we have already 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