“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”
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's disclaimer ('not that I have already') establishes honest realism: he has not achieved perfection (teleiōs). 'Press on' (diōkō, pursue, chase) is athletic metaphor. 'Make it my own' (katalambanō) is grasping what is offered. The reversal: though he presses toward Christ, Christ has already made Paul his own (katalampanō). Human striving and divine possession coexist.
Church Fathers on Philippians 3:13
Nothing so renders our real excellences vain and puffs them away, as to be remembering the good deeds we have done; for this produces two evils, it both renders us remiss, and raises us to haughtiness. Wherefore see how Paul, since he knew our nature to be easily inclined to remissness, though he had given great praise to the Philippians, now subdues their mind by many other things above, but chiefly by his present words. And what are they? “Brethren, I count not myself to…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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