Philippians 3:10-14

3:10 My aim is to know him, ¹  to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, ²  and to be like him in his death, 3:11 and so, somehow, ³  to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Keep Going Forward

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. ⁴  3:13 Brothers and sisters, ⁵  I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: ⁶  Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, 3:14 with this goal in mind, ⁷  I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God ⁸  in Christ Jesus.

[3:10]  ¹ tn The articular infinitive τοῦ γνῶναι (tou gnwnai, “to know”) here expresses purpose. The words “My aim is” have been supplied in the translation to emphasize this nuance and to begin a new sentence (shorter sentences are more appropriate for English style).

[3:10]  ² tn Grk “to know him, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings.”

[3:11]  ³ tn On εἰ πῶς (ei pws) as “so, somehow” see BDAG 279, s.v. εἰ 6.n.

[3:12]  ⁴ 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.

[3:13]  ⁵ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

[3:13]  ⁶ tn Grk “But this one thing (I do).”

[3:14]  ⁷ tn Grk “according to the goal.”

[3:14]  ⁸ tn Grk “prize, namely, the heavenly calling of God.”