“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.”
If by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead — ei pōs attain (if somehow I arrive at) establishes uncertainty appropriate to eschatology: resurrection is God's gift, not human achievement. 'Resurrection from the dead' (exanastasis tōn nekrōn, resurrection out from the dead) emphasizes distinction: individual Christians rise with Christ. The conditional ('if') reflects eschatological seriousness: resurrection is prize worth striving for.
Church Fathers on Philippians 3:12
“Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may apprehend that for which also I was apprehended by Christ Jesus.” “Not that I have already obtained.” What means “already obtained”? He speaks of the prize, but if he who had endured such sufferings, he who was persecuted, he “who had in him the dying of the Lord Jesus,” was not yet confident about that resurrection, what can we say? What means, “if I may apprehend”? What he…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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