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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Philippians 3:12 - 3:12
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Not that (ouch hoti). To guard against a misunderstanding as in Joh 6:26; Joh 12:6; 2Co 1:24; Phi 4:11, Phi 4:17.
I have already obtained (ēdē elabon). Rather, “I did already obtain,” constative second aorist active indicative of lambanō, summing up all his previous experiences as a single event.
Or am already made perfect (ē ēdē teteleiōmai). Perfect passive indicative (state of completion) of teleioō, old verb from teleios and that from telos (end). Paul pointedly denies that he has reached a spiritual impasse of non- development. Certainly he knew nothing of so-called sudden absolute perfection by any single experience. Paul has made great progress in Christlikeness, but the goal is still before him, not behind him.
But I press on (diōkō de). He is not discouraged, but encouraged. He keeps up the chase (real idea in diōkō, as in 1Co 14:1; Rom 9:30; 1Ti 6:11).
If so be that (ei kai). “I follow after.” The condition (third class, ei̇̇katalabō, second aorist active subjunctive of katalambanō) is really a sort of purpose clause or aim. There are plenty of examples in the Koiné[28928]š of the use of ei and the subjunctive as here (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1017), “if I also may lay hold of that for which (Ephesians' hōi, purpose expressed by epi) I was laid hold of (katelēmphthēn, first aorist passive of the same verb katalambanō) by Christ Jesus.” His conversion was the beginning, not the end of the chase.