Philippians 3:12

“Not as though I had already attained, etc.] Or “received”; he had received much grace out of the fulness of it in Christ; he had received the gift of righteousness, the forgiveness of his sins, and the adoption of children; he had attained to a lively hope of the incorruptible inheritance, and had received a right unto it, and had a meetness for it; but as yet he had not received the thing itself, nor was he come to the end of his race, and so had not received the crown of righteousness laid up for him; he had not yet attained to perfect knowledge, nor perfect holiness, nor perfect happiness: wherefore he adds, either were already perfect; he was perfect in comparison of others, that were in…”

“Translate, "Not that I," &c. (I do not wish to be understood as saying that, &c.). attained--"obtained," namely, a perfect knowledge of Christ, and of the power of His death, and fellowship of His sufferings, and a conformity to His death. either were already perfect--"or am already perfected," that is, crowned with the garland of victory, my course completed, and perfection absolutely reached. The image is that of a race course throughout. See Co1 9:24; Heb 12:23. See TRENCH [Greek Synonyms of the New Testament]. I follow after--"I press on." apprehend . . . apprehended--"If so be that I may lay hold on that (namely, the prize, Phi 3:14) for which also I was laid hold on by Christ" (namely,…”

“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 attained to what I wish or hope to be. He had indeed been converted; he had been raised up from the death of sin; he had been imbued with spiritual life and peace; but there was a glorious object before him which he had not yet received. There was to be a kind of resurrection which he had not arrived at. It is possible that Paul here may have had his eye on an error which prevailed to…”

“Not that I have already attained - The prize. He here enters on a new set of metaphors, taken from a race. But observe how, in the utmost fervour, he retains his sobriety of spirit. Or am already perfected - There is a difference between one that is perfect, and one that is perfected. The one is fitted for the race, Phi 3:15; the other, ready to receive the prize. But I pursue, if I may apprehend that - Perfect holiness, preparatory to glory. For, in order to which I was apprehended by Christ Jesus - Appearing to me in the way, Act 26:14. The speaking conditionally both here and in the preceding verse, implies no uncertainty, but only the difficulty of attaining. Philippians 3:13”

“3:12–4:1 Using himself as an example, Paul encourages the Philippians to pursue Christ and the hope of heaven with determination and strength.”

“I had: Phi 3:13, Phi 3:16; Psa 119:5, Psa 119:173-176; Rom 7:19-24; Gal 5:17; Ti1 6:12; Jam 3:2 already perfect: Job 17:9; Psa 138:8; Pro 4:18; Co1 13:10; Co2 7:1, Co2 13:9; Eph 4:12; Heb 12:23, Heb 13:21; Pe1 5:10; Pe2 1:5-8, Pe2 3:18 I follow: Phi 3:14; Psa 42:1, Psa 63:1-3, Psa 63:8, Psa 84:2, Psa 94:15; Isa 51:1; Hos 6:3; Th1 5:15; Ti1 5:10, Ti1 6:11; Heb 12:14; Pe1 3:11-13 that I: Phi 3:14; Ti1 6:12 apprehended: Psa 110:2, Psa 110:3; Act 9:3-6, Act 9:15; Eph 1:4; Th2 2:13 Philippians 3:13”