Philippians 3:13–14

Context

Philippians is a letter that Paul wrote to the church at Philippi while he was imprisoned. In chapter 3, Paul warns against those who insist on circumcision, and he says of the lineage and legal righteousness in which he once boasted, "those I counted loss for Christ" (3:7–8). Then, while expressing his hope of attaining to the resurrection (3:11), he adds, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect" (3:12). Verses 13–14 build on this confession and describe his attitude through the image of a race. "The mark" refers to the goal on which the runner fixes his eyes, and "the prize" refers to the award given to the winner of the contest.

Interpretation

• The scope of "those things which are behind": Many commentators hold that, in context, this phrase refers to Paul's former grounds for boasting listed in 3:5–6, that is, his own righteousness. Other interpreters broaden it to include past failures and guilt as well. In either case, "forgetting" is understood not as erasing the memory but as no longer relying on it or being bound by it.
• The meaning of "the prize of the high calling": The "high calling" can be read either as "a calling that comes from above" or as "a calling to come upward." In light of 3:11 and 3:20–21, many interpreters take the prize to be the resurrection and eschatological consummation, or the full knowledge of Christ itself.
• The Reformed reading: The Reformed tradition reads this passage as a basis for the doctrine of sanctification, holding that even believers who have received justification do not reach perfection in this life but continue to grow throughout their lives.
• The Wesleyan reading: John Wesley is known to have taken 3:12 as the text of his sermon "Christian Perfection." Wesleyan theology and the Holiness tradition read "either were already perfect" in 3:12 together with "as many as be perfect" in 3:15. This tradition distinguishes final perfection at the resurrection from the perfection of love attainable in this life, and it emphasizes pressing on toward the latter.

Questions of Application

The passage is not a subject of sharp dispute among denominations. As noted above, however, emphases differ on how far "perfection" may be expected in this life. In addition, the passage is often used as a motto for New Year's resolutions, goal achievement, or self-improvement, and some have criticized this use as quoting it out of context. They point out that in the original setting, the "things which are behind" that Paul set aside were not so much his failures as his own achievements and grounds for boasting.

Among Korean translations, the Korean Revised Version's "좇아가노라" ("I follow after") was changed to "달려가노라" ("I run") in the New Korean Revised Version. The New Korean Standard Version renders "the mark" more plainly as "목표" ("goal").

In the Korean Church

The phrase "toward the mark" is widely used in sermon titles and church mottos. It is frequently quoted at the turn of the year in New Year's Eve watch night services and New Year sermons, as well as on occasions marking new beginnings, such as graduations and commissioning services.

Related Passages

• Philippians 3:12
• Philippians 3:20–21
• 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
• 2 Timothy 4:7–8
• Hebrews 12:1–2