Philippians 3:12

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 'Not that I,' etc. (let me not be misunderstood as saying that, etc.) ATTAINED - `obtained;' namely, a perfect knowledge of Christ, the power of His death, the fellowship of His sufferings, and conformity to His death. EITHER WERE ALREADY PERFECT - `or am already (spiritually) perfected' [ teteleioomai (G5048)], crowned with the garland of victory, my course completed, and perfection absolutely reached. The image is that of a race-course (see 1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:23...

12_Not as though I had already apprehended _Paul insists upon _this, _that he may convince the Philippians that he thinks of nothing but Christ — knows nothing else — desires nothing else — is occupied with no other subject of meditation. In connection with this, there is much weight in what he now adds — that he himself, while he had given up all hinderances, had nevertheless not attained _that _object of aim, and that, on this account, he always aimed and eagerly aspired at something further. How much more was this incumbent on the Philippians, who were still far behind him? It is asked, however, what it is that Paul says he has not yet attained? For unquestionably, so soon as we are by faith ingrafted into the body of Christ, we have already entered the kingdom of God, and, as it is stated in Ephesians 2:6, we already, in hope, _sit in heavenly places. _I answe

12-21 This simple dependence and earnestness of soul, were not mentioned as if the apostle had gained the prize, or were already made perfect in the Saviour's likeness. He forgot the things which were behind, so as not to be content with past labours or present measures of grace. He reached forth, stretched himself forward towards his point; expressions showing great concern to become more and more like unto Christ. He who runs a race, must never stop short of the end, but press forward as fast as he can; so those who have heaven in their view, must still press forward to it, in holy desires and hopes, and constant endeavours. Eternal life is the gift of God, but it is in Christ Jesus; through his hand it must come to us, as it is procured for us by him. There is no getting to heaven as our home, but by Christ as our Way. True believers, in seeking this assurance, as well as to glorify...

Verse 12. _NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY ATTAINED_] Ουχ ὁτι ηδη ελαβον· _For I have not yet received_ the prize; I am not glorified, for I have not finished my course; and I have a _conflict_ still to maintain, and the issue will prove whether I should be crowned. From the beginning of the 11th to the end of the 17th verse there is one continued allusion to the contests at the Olympic games; exercises with which, and their laws, the Philippians were well acquainted. Philippians 3:11 _EITHER WERE ALREADY PERFECT_] Η ηδη τετελειωμαι· _Nor am I yet_ _perfect_; I am not yet crowned, in consequence of having suffered martyrdom. I am quite satisfied that the apostle here alludes to the Olympic games, and the word τετελειωμαι is the proof; for τελειωθηναι is spoken of those who have _completed their race,_ reached the g

NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY ATTAINED - This verse and the two following are full of allusions to the Grecian races. “The word rendered ‘attained’ signifies, to have arrived at the goal and won the prize, but without having as yet received it” - The Pictorial Bible. The meaning here is, I do not pretend to have attained to what I wish or hope to be. He had indeed been converted; he had been raised up from the death of sin; he had been imbued with spiritual life and peace; but there was a glorious object before him which he had not yet received. There was to be a kind of resurrection which he had not arrived at. It is possible that Paul here may have had his eye on an error which prevailed to some extent in the early church, that “the resurrection was already past” 2 Timothy 2:18, by which the faith of some had been perverted. How far this error had spread, or

EXPOSITION PHILIPPIANS 3:1 FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, REJOICE IN THE LORD. This word "finally" (τὸ λοιπόν is frequently used by St. Paul to introduce a practical conclusion after the doctrinal portion of his Epistles: thus it occurs again in Philippians 4:8, and also in 2 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 6:10; 1Th 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:1. Some render χαίρετε_ _"farewell;" but "rejoice" seems more suitable here. The golden thread of spiritual joy runs through t

NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY ATTAINED,.... Or "received"; he had received much grace out of the fulness of it in Christ; he had received the gift of righteousness, the forgiveness of his sins, and the adoption of children; he had attained to a lively hope of the incorruptible inheritance, and had received a right unto it, and had a meetness for it; but as yet he had not received the thing itself, nor was he come to the end of his race, and so had not received the crown of righteousness laid up for him; he had not yet attained to perfect knowledge, nor perfect holiness, nor perfect happiness: wherefore he adds, EITHER WERE ALREADY PERFECT; he was perfect in comparison of others, that were in a lower class of grace, experience, and knowledge, in which sense the word is used in Philippians 3:15, and in...

Philippians 3:1. _Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord._ As much as to say, «If this were the last sentence that I should write to you, I would say, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.' It is your privilege, it is your duty, to rejoice in God; not in your health, your wealth, your children, your prosperity, but in the Lord.» There is the unchanging and unbounded source of joy. It will do you no harm to rejoice in the Lord; the more you rejoice in him, the more spiritually-minded will you become. «Finally, my brethren.» That is, even to the end, not with you the bitter end; but even to the end of life, rejoice in the Lord. Make this the finis of everything, the end of every day, the end of every year, the end of life. «Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.» Blessed is that religion in which it is a duty to be happy....

PERFECT (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 5:48). _...

PHILIPPIANS 3:12 e;labon h' h;dh tetelei,wmai The Textus Receptus, following several Western witnesses (D* Gc itar, d, (g) Irenaeuslat Ambrosiaster) as well as î46, reads e;labon h' h;dh dedikai,wmai h' h;dh tetelei,wmai. Although it might be argued that because of homoeoarcton the clause h' h;dh dedikai,wmai was accidentally omitted in the other witnesses, the Committee regarded it as more probable that the additional clause was a gloss “of some pious copyist who imagined that the Divine side of sanctification was left too much out of sight” (H. A. A. Kennedy, _Expositor’s Greek Testament, ad loc._). The addition of the clause destroys the balance of the four-part structure of...