Philippians 3:13 Meaning and Explanation
“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,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul refuses to live in the past, whether its failures or its triumphs, and leans his whole self toward what is ahead in Christ.
The Context of Philippians 3:13
Paul has just listed all he once counted as gain, his pedigree and his record, and called it loss for Christ (verses 4 to 8). Now, even as a mature apostle, he admits he has not arrived. The image is from the footrace: a runner straining forward, eyes fixed on the finish, never glancing back.
What Does Philippians 3:13 Mean?
Paul speaks like a runner in full stride. He does not pretend to have already reached the goal; he is honest that he is still on the way. But he has settled on one thing: he lets go of what lies behind and stretches toward what lies ahead. Behind him are both his failures, which could shame him, and his successes, which could make him coast. He releases them all. Forgetting here is not losing the memory but loosening its grip, so the past cannot hold him back from the race still to run.
What lies ahead, the prize Paul reaches for, is Christ Himself and the fullness of knowing Him. The Christian life is a forward-leaning journey, drawn on by the One who is out in front of us. We do not run to earn His love but because He has already laid hold of us. Whatever is behind, the failures we regret and even the wins we are tempted to rest in, none of it has the final word. Christ ahead does.
Philippians 3:13 in the Original Language
epekteinomai (ἐπεκτείνομαι), 'reaching forth' -- straining forward, stretching out toward, as a runner leaning for the line.
How to Apply Philippians 3:13 Today
Our past can chain us in two ways: through failures we cannot forgive ourselves, and through successes we keep clinging to. Paul shows us how to loosen the grip of both and lean forward instead. The best of the journey is still ahead, because Christ Himself is the one drawing us on.
Frequently Asked Questions About Philippians 3:13
What does Philippians 3:13 mean?
Paul refuses to live in the past, whether its failures or its triumphs, and leans his whole self toward what is ahead in Christ.
What is the context of Philippians 3:13?
Paul has just listed all he once counted as gain, his pedigree and his record, and called it loss for Christ (verses 4 to 8). Now, even as a mature apostle, he admits he has not arrived. The image is from the footrace: a runner straining forward, eyes fixed on the finish, never glancing back.
How can I apply Philippians 3:13 today?
Our past can chain us in two ways: through failures we cannot forgive ourselves, and through successes we keep clinging to. Paul shows us how to loosen the grip of both and lean forward instead. The best of the journey is still ahead, because Christ Himself is the one drawing us on.