What does Philippians 3:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul"s goal (Gr. skopos, lit. goal marker, the object at the end of the course on which the runner fixes his gaze) was complete knowledge of Christ. He would receive a prize when he reached that goal. He would only reach that goal when he entered the Lord"s presence and saw Him face to face ( 1 John 3:2-3). Nevertheless he pursued the goal while living on the earth because he wanted to get to know the Lord as well as possible before going into the Lord"s presence. [source][source]

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"This is a far cry from the teaching on sanctification which calls believers to "let go and let God". There was not much "letting go" about Paul, but rather an example of the truth that the regenerate believer must appropriate the sanctifying grace of God by actively obeying him." ^[1] [source]

The prize would come at the end of the race, when he had attained the goal, but not before then. Therefore "the prize of the upward call" probably does not refer to the Rapture. There is another reason this is not a proper identification. The Rapture is not a reward. God will catch up (rapture) into heaven every Christian regardless of how he or she has run the race ( 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). The prize probably refers to the reward faithful believers will receive at the judgment seat of Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:10). God has called every believer to salvation so we may obtain that prize. However only those who run the race as Paul did, namely, to gain an ever increasing experiential knowledge of Christ, will obtain it ( 1 Corinthians 9:24). The TNIV translation gives the sense: "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."[source]

"Each believer is on the track; each has a special lane in which to run; and each has a goal to achieve. If we reach the goal the way God has planned, then we receive a reward. If we fail, we lose the reward, but we do not lose our citizenship." ^[2] [source]

"In keeping with the vivid imagery drawn from the Greek games that pervades this section there is still another explanation of the "upward call" that seems the most reasonable explanation of all. It sees in the expression tes ano kleseos ^[3] an allusion to the fact that the Olympian games, which included foot-races, were organized and presided over by agonothetes, highly respected officers called Hellenodikai. "After each event they had a herald announce the name of the victor, his father"s name and his country, and the athlete or charioteer would come and receive a palm branch at their hands" (G. Glotz, "Hellenodikai," in C. Daremberg and E. Saglio ^[4], Dictionnaire des antiqus grecques et romaines ^[5] 3 ,1 ,60-64). This is the call to which Paul is now alluding (Collange)." ^[6] [source]

Context Summary

The nearer the saint comes to the perfect life, the farther he feels from it. It is only when we have climbed the foothills that we realize how lofty the mountain summits are. But there is no need for discouragement. We have eternity before us, the expanding landscape of truth is our inspiration, and the loving Spirit of God bears us upward on eagle's wings. Our Savior had a distinct purpose in view when He apprehended us. Its full scope was only known to Him; let us strive that we may not fail to realize His ideal. We can do this best by forgetting past failures, past sins, and past successes, and pressing on toward the goal. Will not the prize be the Lord Himself? Let us always remember that God's call is upward. This will help us when there seems collision between two duties.

Instead of judging another, let us walk together along the path of obedience. Those who leave the narrow track and still profess godliness are greater enemies to the Cross than avowed antagonists. We are citizens of the skies, who come forth to spend a few hours each day on earth. This is our inn, yonder is our true home. Thence Jesus will come to complete the work of salvation by giving us a body like His own. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 3

¹  He warns them to beware of the false teachers;
⁴  showing that himself has greater cause than they to trust in the righteousness of the law;
⁷  which he counts as loss, to gain Christ and his righteousness;
¹²  acknowledging his own imperfection and pressing on toward the goal;
¹⁵  He exhorts them to be thus minded;
¹⁷  and to imitate him,
¹⁸  and to decline carnal ways