Philippians 3:12
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Paul isn't saying he hasn't achieved anything spiritual, but rather that the ultimate goal—perfect union with Christ—is still ahead. The phrasing highlights that his pursuit is fueled not just by his own effort, but by the undeniable fact that Christ himself "seized" him first.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining that his passionate pursuit of Christ isn't because he's already reached some ultimate spiritual perfection or grasped the final prize. He clarifies that this intense drive is a continuous process, not a finished state, stemming from his personal encounter with Christ who seized him for this very purpose.
Paul declares he hasn't 'already attained' or is 'already perfect.' What does this mean for our own spiritual journey?
Paul uses the powerful imagery of an athletic race, common in the ancient Greek world, to describe the Christian life.
Not Yet at the Finish Line
When Paul says he hasn't 'already attained' (ἔλαβον - elabon), he means he hasn't yet grasped the prize at the end of the race. Likewise, when he says he is not 'already perfect' (τετελειωμαι - teteleiōmai), he's not saying he hasn't made any progress. Instead, he's using a term often related to completing a course or receiving a crown. He hasn't reached the ultimate goal, the final victory, or the heavenly reward.
The Present Pursuit
This isn't a statement of despair, but a declaration of ongoing effort. He acknowledges that the race isn't over, and therefore, he must continue to 'press on' (διώκω - diōkō). This pursuit isn't about reaching a state of sinless perfection in this life, but about relentlessly striving towards the ultimate completion that awaits us in Christ.
Paul's relentless pursuit is driven by something foundational: 'because Christ Jesus has made me his own.' What does this divine 'apprehension' mean for us?
The driving force behind Paul's intense pursuit is the profound reality of his own conversion—how Christ 'apprehended' him.
Christ's Grasp
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The phrase 'apprehended of Christ Jesus' (κατελήμφθην ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ - katelēmphthēn hypo Christou Iēsou) speaks of being seized or grasped by Christ. Paul wasn't just passively called; he was dramatically captured by Christ's love and power, like on the road to Damascus. This wasn't an accident; it was a deliberate act by Christ with a specific purpose.
The 'Why' of Our Pursuit
Paul explains that he presses on 'that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.' He is striving to attain the very goal for which Christ first laid hold of him. This means our striving isn't just about personal achievement; it's about fulfilling the purpose God set for us when He claimed us as His own. Christ's initiative in apprehending us is the secure basis and the powerful motivation for our continued pursuit of Him.
Understand the original words
teleios · Greek Adjective
A state of being brought to the intended end or goal of spiritual development; in this context, it refers to the final state of glorification, not moral sinlessness in the present life.
diōkō · Greek Verb
To exert intense effort toward a specific objective; a metaphor often used for athletic competition to describe the diligent pursuit of Christlikeness.
The intense, athletic imagery Paul uses in Philippians 3:12 is deeply rooted in the cultural context of ancient Greece, where athletic games, like the Isthmian Games held near Corinth, were highly celebrated. Paul draws on these familiar concepts of striving, racing, and winning prizes to describe the Christian life, a metaphor that would have resonated powerfully with the Philippian believers who lived in a Roman colony with a strong military and civic presence.
c. AD 33-36— this verse
Paul's Conversion on the Road to Damascus
Saul, a persecutor of Christians, has a dramatic encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. This event marks a radical turning point, transforming him into the apostle Paul.
c. AD 48-49
Council of Jerusalem
A pivotal gathering where apostles and elders debate the requirements for Gentile believers, affirming that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not adherence to Mosaic Law.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
Paul spends significant time in Corinth, a major Roman city, establishing a church and facing opposition. He writes his letters to the Thessalonians during this period.
c. AD 55
Letter to the Corinthians
Paul writes to the church in Corinth, addressing divisions and doctrinal issues. He uses athletic metaphors, like running a race, to explain Christian striving.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul is under house arrest in Rome, where he writes letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, offering profound theological insights and encouragement.
This passage uses the same imagery of a race, emphasizing that only one runner wins the prize, urging believers to run with all their might and self-discipline.
Hebrews 12:1-2It describes believers as a great cloud of witnesses who have run their races and calls us to run with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Romans 8:29This verse speaks of God's predestined plan to make believers conformed to the image of His Son, highlighting the ongoing process of transformation that Paul was pursuing.
Galatians 2:20Paul declares, 'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me,' showing the deep identification with Christ that underlies his pursuit of perfection.
1 Timothy 6:12This verse exhorts believers to 'fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called,' echoing Paul's own persistent pursuit and apprehension of his calling.
barnesPhilippians 3:12: "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
Not as though I had already attained - This verse and the two following are full of allusions to the Grecian races. "The word rendered 'attained' signifies, to have arrived at the goal and won the prize, but without having as yet received it" - The Pictorial Bible. The meaning here is, I do not pretend to have at…
meyerPhilippians 3:12: "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
Php 3:12 . Οὐχ ὅτι ] By this I do not mean to say that , etc. See on 2 Corinthians 1:24 ; 2 Corinthians 3:5 ; John 6:46 . Aken, Lehre v. Temp. u. Mod . p. 91 ff. He might encounter such a misconception on the part of his opponents; but “in summo fervore sobrietatem spiritualem non dimittit apostolus,” Bengel. ἤδη…
Paul isn't saying he hasn't achieved anything spiritual, but rather that the ultimate goal—perfect union with Christ—is still ahead. The phrasing highlights that his pursuit is fueled not just by his own effort, but by the undeniable fact that Christ himself "seized" him first.
Paul is explaining that his passionate pursuit of Christ isn't because he's already reached some ultimate spiritual perfection or grasped the final prize. He clarifies that this intense drive is a continuous process, not a finished state, stemming from his personal encounter with Christ who seized him for this very purpose.
Paul is explaining that his passionate pursuit of Christ isn't because he's already reached some ultimate spiritual perfection or grasped the final prize. He clarifies that this intense drive is a continuous process, not a finished state, stemming from his personal encounter with Christ who seized him for this very purpose.
"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." — Paul isn't saying he hasn't achieved anything spiritual, but rather that the ultimate goal—perfect union with Christ—is still ahead. The phrasing highlights that his pursuit is fueled not just by h…
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Last reviewed October 2026
