Philippians 3:12

12. Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.

Translation and Paraphrase

12. (I certainly am) not (implying) that I have already taken (hold of my goals), or (that) I have already become fully grown (and perfect); but I am pursuing (the goals), so that I may lay hold (upon them, the same goal) for which I was also laid hold upon by Christ. (He laid hold upon me at the time of my conversion, and directed me toward the goal, which I now long for and labor to take hold of.)

Notes

1.

Paul here reveals yet more of the attitudes which he held, attitudes which distinguished him from the false teachers who gloried in their Jewish background.

Paul did not consider himself yet to have laid hold on the goals he had stated in Philippians 3:9-11. Compare Philippians 3:13 a. He did not feel that he was yet perfect, even though Christ had given him that righteousness which comes through faith (Philippians 3:9). There was more he yet desired to attain. The word attain in Philippians 3:11 (Gr. katantao) is a different word from obtained in Philippians 3:12 (Gr. lambano), even though the KJV translates them as attain and attained. The former word means to arrive at; the latter means to take.

2.

Perfect means full-grown, or mature in mind, complete. It does not suggest the idea of absolute sinlessness.

3.

Though he did not feel that he was perfect, Paul nevertheless was always pressing on (Gr. dioko, pursue). This should be a lesson against letting down in our efforts, even in old age! Paul was no longer young when he wrote these words. Compare Philemon 1:9.

4.

Paul sought to lay hold on the thing for which Christ had laid hold upon him and had directed him to seize. Christ had laid hold on Paul for a purpose, and now Paul sought to lay hold on that same purpose. We see here an illustration of the cooperation necessary between the divine will and the human will.

The idea that God and Christ lay hold on us, and direct our lives into certain paths for certain goals, is frequently found in the scripture. But in all such cases the human will and human effort had to cooperate with the divine directions, or the job did not get done. Note the cases of Moses (Exodus 3:10; Exodus 4:10-11), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-10). John the Baptist (Luke 1:15-17), and Paul himself (Acts 26:19; Galatians 1:15-16). Compare Philippians 2:13. Perhaps God is laying hold on your life for a special service. Will you accept this direction, and strive to lay hold on the goal for which you were laid hold on?

5.

R.S.V. translates Philippians 3:12 b, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. The Gr. prepositional phrase eph-' ho (translated for which in KJV and ASV) does indeed sometimes mean because (Thayer's Lexicon), in accord with this reading. But most of the other principal versions (New English, Phillips, Amplified, New A.S.V., Confraternity, etc.) render the verse by a meaning similar to our familiar KJV and ASV. This would seem to be the preferred reading.