KJV: 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.
YLT: Not that I did already obtain, or have been already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by the Christ Jesus;
Darby: Not that I have already obtained the prize, or am already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may get possession of it, seeing that also I have been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.
ASV: Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.
| ὅτι | that |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: ὅτι Sense: that, because, since. |
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| ἤδη | already |
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Parse: Adverb Root: ἤδη Sense: now, already. |
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| ἔλαβον | I have obtained [it] |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: λαμβάνω Sense: to take. |
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| τετελείωμαι | have been perfected |
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Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular Root: τελειόω Sense: to make perfect, complete. |
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| διώκω | I am pursuing |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: διώκω Sense: to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away. |
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| δὲ | however |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| καὶ | also |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: καί Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but. |
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| καταλάβω | I may lay hold |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular Root: καταλαμβάνω Sense: to lay hold of. |
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| ᾧ | that for which |
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Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Singular Root: ὅς Sense: who, which, what, that. |
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| κατελήμφθην | I was laid hold of |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 1st Person Singular Root: καταλαμβάνω Sense: to lay hold of. |
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| Χριστοῦ | Christ |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Χριστός Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God. |
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| Ἰησοῦ | Jesus |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Ἰησοῦς Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor. |
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Greek Commentary for Philippians 3:12
To guard against a misunderstanding as in John 6:26; John 12:6; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Phlippians 4:11, Phlippians 4:17. [source]
Rather, “I did already obtain,” constative second aorist active indicative of λαμβανω lambanō summing up all his previous experiences as a single event. Or am already made perfect (η ηδη τετελειωμαι ē ēdē teteleiōmai). Perfect passive indicative (state of completion) of τελειοω teleioō old verb from τελειος teleios and that from τελος 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 He is not discouraged, but encouraged. He keeps up the chase (real idea in διωκω diōkō as in 1 Corinthians 14:1; Romans 9:30; 1 Timothy 6:11). If so be that (ει και ei kai). “I follow after.” The condition (third class, εικαταλαβω ei̇̇katalabō second aorist active subjunctive of καταλαμβανω katalambanō) is really a sort of purpose clause or aim. There are plenty of examples in the Koiné{[28928]}š of the use of ει ei and the subjunctive as here (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1017), “if I also may lay hold of that for which (επ ωι Ephesians' hōi purpose expressed by επι epi) I was laid hold of (κατελημπτην katelēmphthēn first aorist passive of the same verb καταλαμβανω katalambanō) by Christ Jesus.” His conversion was the beginning, not the end of the chase. [source]
Perfect passive indicative (state of completion) of τελειοω teleioō old verb from τελειος teleios and that from τελος 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. [source]
He is not discouraged, but encouraged. He keeps up the chase (real idea in διωκω diōkō as in 1 Corinthians 14:1; Romans 9:30; 1 Timothy 6:11). If so be that (ει και ei kai). “I follow after.” The condition (third class, εικαταλαβω ei̇̇katalabō second aorist active subjunctive of καταλαμβανω katalambanō) is really a sort of purpose clause or aim. There are plenty of examples in the Koiné{[28928]}š of the use of ει ei and the subjunctive as here (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1017), “if I also may lay hold of that for which (επ ωι Ephesians' hōi purpose expressed by επι epi) I was laid hold of (κατελημπτην katelēmphthēn first aorist passive of the same verb καταλαμβανω katalambanō) by Christ Jesus.” His conversion was the beginning, not the end of the chase. [source]
“I follow after.” The condition (third class, εικαταλαβω ei̇̇katalabō second aorist active subjunctive of καταλαμβανω katalambanō) is really a sort of purpose clause or aim. There are plenty of examples in the Koiné{[28928]}š of the use of ει ei and the subjunctive as here (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1017), “if I also may lay hold of that for which (επ ωι Ephesians' hōi purpose expressed by επι epi) I was laid hold of (κατελημπτην katelēmphthēn first aorist passive of the same verb καταλαμβανω katalambanō) by Christ Jesus.” His conversion was the beginning, not the end of the chase. [source]
Lit., not that, as Rev. By this I do not mean to say that. For similar usage, see John 7:22; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Phlippians 4:17. [source]
Rev., have attained, am made perfect. There is a change of tenses which may be intentional; the aorist attained pointing to the definite period of his conversion, the perfect, am made perfect, referring to his present state. Neither when I became Christ's did I attain, nor, up to this time, have I been perfected. With attained supply the prize from Phlippians 3:14. Rev., am made perfect, is preferable, as preserving the passive form of the verb. [source]
Rev., better, press on. The A.V. gives the sense of chasing; whereas the apostle's meaning is the pressing toward a fixed point. The continuous present would be better, I am pressing. [source]
American Rev., lay hold on. Neither A.V. nor Rev. give the force of καὶ alsoif I may also apprehend as well as pursue. For the verb, see on John 1:5. [source]
Rev., correctly, was apprehended. American Rev., laid hold on. Paul's meaning is, “I would grasp that for which Christ grasped me. Paul's conversion was literally of the nature of a seizure. That for which Christ laid hold of him was indeed his mission to the Gentiles, but it was also his personal salvation, and it is of this that the context treats. Some render, seeing that also I was apprehended. Rev., in margin. [source]