Philippians 3:13

Philippians 3:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
• New International Version (NIV)Brothers and sisters, 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,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

Context of Philippians 3:13

11Then I hope that I also will become alive again after death. 12I am not saying that I have already reached that place in my life. I have not yet completely become the person that God wants me to be. But I am trying very hard to reach that place. That was Christ's purpose when he first made me his own. My Christian friends, I do not think that I have reached that place yet. But this is what I do: I do not think about past things that have already happened. Instead, I try hard to reach the things that are in front of me. 14I am like a runner who wants to reach the end of the race. I run straight towards that place, so that I can win God's gift. Because I belong to Christ Jesus, God has called me to live with him in heaven. That is God's gift to me at the end of the race. 15All of us should agree to live like that, if we properly understand God's message. If you think differently about these things, God will show you clearly what is right.

Philippians 3:13 word by word

Ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ ἐμαυτὸν οὐ λογίζομαι κατειληφέναι· ἓν δέ, τὰ μὲν ὀπίσω ἐπιλανθανόμενος, τοῖς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν ἐπεκτεινόμενος,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• countλογίζομαιlogizomai · to countG3049
• notοὐou · noG3756
• myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
• to have apprehendedκαταλαμβάνωkatalambanō · to graspG2638
• butδέde · thenG1161
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• one thingεἷςheis · oneG1520
• forgettingἐπιλανθάνωepilanthanomai · to forgetG1950
• those things which areὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• behindὀπίσωopisō · afterG3694
• reaching forthἐπεκτείνομαιepekteinomai · to reach out toG1901
• beforeἔμπροσθενemprosthen · beforeG1715

Cross-references for Philippians 3:13

• Philippians 3:8Yes, now that I know Christ Jesus as my Lord, that is the most valuable thing. Nothing else is important at all. I have thrown everything else away, so that I can serve Christ. All those other things are like dirt to me. I think about them like that, so that I can have Christ.
• Philippians 1:18But it does not matter to me! All of them are telling people about Christ. That is the most important thing. Whether they speak because of wrong reasons or because of right reasons, they are speaking the message about Christ! Because of that, I am happy. Yes, I will continue to be happy.
• Philippians 4:11When I say that, it is not because I need anything. I have learned to be happy, whatever things may happen to me.
• Psalms 27:4There is one thing that I have asked the Lord to do for me. This is the one thing that I really want: I want to live in the Lord's house all the days of my life. Then I will clearly see the Lord's beauty. I will pray to him in his temple.
• Luke 10:42But only one thing is really important. That is what Mary has chosen to do. Nobody will take it away from her.’
• 2 Peter 3:8My friends, here is one thing that you must remember. In the Lord God's mind, one day and 1,000 years are the same. For him, 1,000 years is like a single day.
• Psalms 45:10Royal daughter, listen to me. Listen carefully to what I am saying. Forget your people and your family.
• Luke 9:62Jesus replied, ‘A man that ploughs a field must continue to look straight in front of him. If he looks behind him, he cannot plough well. People that look back behind them cannot work well for the kingdom of God.’
• 2 Corinthians 5:16So that changes how we think about people. We no longer use human ideas to think what they are like. At one time, we thought about Christ as humans think. But now we think about him very differently!
• Hebrews 6:1So we must go on from the first lessons that we learned about Christ. We must grow as believers so that we understand more and more. We should not go back to those first lessons again and again. We already know that we must turn away from wrong things that lead to death. We know that we must trust God.
• Philippians 2:12So, my friends, you must continue to obey God. When I was with you, you always obeyed. Now that I am not with you, that is even more important. God has saved you. You must always live in a way which shows that is true. Respect God and obey him. Remember that he is great and powerful.
• Romans 15:23For many years I have been waiting for the chance to come. But now I have finished my work in these places here.
• 1 Corinthians 9:24Think about how people run in a race. All the runners run, but only one of them receives the prize. You must run like that, to win the race.
• Hebrews 12:1So we have learned about many people who trusted God long ago. They are like a very big crowd all round us and we should copy their example. We must be like people who run in a race. We must throw away everything that stops us from running well. The sins that we do make us fall down very easily. We must not let those sins rule us. God has prepared the way that is in front of us. We must continue to be strong while we run along that way. We must choose to run that race well.

Commentaries on Philippians 3:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13I count not myself to have apprehended - Whatever gifts, graces, or honors I may have received from Jesus Christ, I consider every thing as incomplete till I have finished my course, got this crown, and have my body raised and fashioned after his glorious body. This one thing I do - This is the concern, as it is the sole business, of my life. Forgetting those things which are behind - My conduct is not regulated nor influenced by that of others; I…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended - That is, to have obtained that for which I have been called into the service of the Redeemer. There is something which I strive after which I have not yet gained. This statement is a confirmation of the opinion that in the previous verse, where he says that he was not “already perfect,” he includes a moral perfection, and not merely the obtainment of the prize or reward; for no one could suppose that he…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. 13-14I press on toward the goal: Paul compares the Christian life to a race. Just as a runner keeps going to reach the finish line, Paul keeps following Christ with hope of the final reward (see study note on 2:16). Paul was ready to give up everything for the ultimate goal, the heavenly prize of eternal life.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. I--whatever others count as to themselves. He who counts himself perfect, must deceive himself by calling sin infirmity (1Jo 1:8); at the same time, each must aim at perfection, to be a Christian at all (Mt 5:48). forgetting those things ... behind--Looking back is sure to end in going back (Lu 9:62): So Lot's wife (Lu 17:32). If in stemming a current we cease pulling the oar against it, we are carried back. God's word to us is as it was to Israel…Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 3:13

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

In the dictionaries

• Belly
• Concision
• Count
• Earthly
• Gain
• God
• Mean
• Press
• Safe
• Sanctification

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