Philippians 3:12

Philippians 3:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Context of Philippians 3:12

10I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12 word by word

οὐχ ὅτι ἤδη ἔλαβον ἢ ἤδη τετελείωμαι, διώκω δὲ εἰ καὶ καταλάβω ἐφ᾽ ᾧ καὶ κατελήμφθην ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ.¶Read the interlinear

• Notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• I have already obtainedἤδηēdē · alreadyG2235
• I have already obtainedλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• orἤē · orG2228
• have already been made perfectτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
• butδέde · thenG1161
• I press onδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• ·εἰei · if: even thoughG1487
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• to take hold ofκαταλαμβάνωkatalambanō · to graspG2638
• that for whichἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• that for whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·ὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424

Cross-references for Philippians 3:12

• Philippians 3:13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
• Psalms 119:5Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!
• Romans 7:19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
• Galatians 5:17For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
• 1 Timothy 6:12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
• James 3:2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
• Job 17:9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
• Psalms 138:8The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever— do not abandon the works of Your hands.
• Proverbs 4:18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
• 1 Corinthians 13:10but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.
• 2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
• 2 Corinthians 13:9In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
• Ephesians 4:12to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
• Hebrews 12:23in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
• Hebrews 13:21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
• 1 Peter 5:10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.

Commentaries on Philippians 3:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Not as though I had already attained - ̔ · 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. Either were already…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Not 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-21Using himself as an example, Paul encourages the Philippians to pursue Christ and the hope of heaven with determination and strength.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Translate, "Not that I," &c. (I do not wish to be understood as saying that, &c.). attained--"obtained," namely, a perfect knowledge of Christ, and of the power of His death, and fellowship of His sufferings, and a conformity to His death. either were already perfect--"or am already perfected," that is, crowned with the garland of victory, my course completed, and perfection absolutely reached. The image is that of a race course throughout. See 1Co…Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 3:12

• Desire
• Grace of God
• Humility
• Obedience
• Perfection
• Righteousness
• Testimony
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Christ, Jesus
• Belly
• Concision
• Count
• Earthly
• Gain

Commentaries on Philippians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings