3:12 Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. 17 3:13 Brothers and sisters, 18 I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: 19 Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,
1 tn The words “of contentment” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by Paul’s remarks at the end of v. 11.
1 tn Grk “flesh.”
2 tn Grk “fruit of work”; the genitive ἔργου (ergou) is taken as an attributed genitive in which the head noun, καρπός (karpos), functions attributively (cf. ExSyn 89-91).
3 tn Grk “what I shall prefer.” The Greek verb αἱρέω (Jairew) could also mean “choose,” but in this context such a translation is problematic for it suggests that Paul could perhaps choose suicide (cf. L&N 30.86).
1 tn Grk “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.”
2 tn Grk “the flesh.”
1 tn Grk “I am hard-pressed between the two.” Cf. L&N 30.18.
1 tn Grk “for your progress.”
2 sn Paul’s confidence in his release from prison (I know that I will remain and continue with all of you) implies that this Roman imprisonment did not end in his death. Hence, there is the likelihood that he experienced a second Roman imprisonment later on (since the belief of the early church was that Paul died under Nero in Rome). If so, then the pastoral letters (1-2 Tim, Titus) could well fit into a life of Paul that goes beyond any descriptions in the book of Acts (which ends with Paul’s first Roman imprisonment). Some have argued that the pastorals cannot be genuine because they cannot fit into the history of Acts. But this view presupposes that Paul’s first Roman imprisonment was also his last.
1 tn Grk “which is,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 27.
2 tn Grk “to them.”
3 tn Grk “this.” The pronoun refers back to “a sign”; thus these words have been repeated for clarity.
1 tn Grk “having,” most likely as an instrumental participle. Thus their present struggle is evidence that they have received the gift of suffering.
2 tn Grk “that you saw in me and now hear [to be] in me.”
1 tn Grk “according to the goal.”
2 tn Grk “prize, namely, the heavenly calling of God.”
1 tn Grk “that for which I also was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” The passive has been translated as active in keeping with contemporary English style.
1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.
2 tn Grk “But this one thing (I do).”