New International Version
Philippians 3:12
12Not 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
Context of Philippians 3:12
10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 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. 13Brothers 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, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Read all of Philippians 3Philippians 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Notοὐou · noG3756
- as thoughὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- I hadλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- alreadyἤδηēdē · alreadyG2235
- eitherἤē · orG2228
- wereτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
- butδέde · thenG1161
- I follow afterδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
- ifεἰei · if: even thoughG1487
- thatκαίkai · andG2532
- I may apprehendκαταλαμβάνωkatalambanō · to graspG2638
- that forἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- Christὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
Cross-references for Philippians 3:12
- Philippians 3:13Brothers 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,
- Psalms 119:5Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
- Romans 7:19For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
- Galatians 5:17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever 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 your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
- James 3:2We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
- Job 17:9Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger.
- Psalms 138:8The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.
- Proverbs 4:18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
- 1 Corinthians 13:10but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
- 2 Corinthians 13:9We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.
- Ephesians 4:12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
- Hebrews 12:23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
- Hebrews 13:21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Peter 5:10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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