| Philippians 3:12 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect,1 but I press on, so that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended by Christ Jesus. [Paul is being modest and advises all to remain humble and modest, not boasting of their position in Christ. In these next verses he is telling perfect men to follow him as the example of humility. See Footnotes 1 and Footnote 3 to verse 15 below.] | |||||||||
1 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.
Many people point to this verse, trying to prove that Paul was not perfect; so they can think no one can be perfect; so they can rationalize doing nothing.
Paul said: Not as though I were already perfect, and I do not consider myself to have apprehended.
Paul is saying that he is not resting on his laurels; he is not sitting back in comfort of what he has attained.
Rather he presses full-on that I may win Christ. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death. Phil 3:10
Paul was just being humble when he said: Not as though I were already perfect.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect. Phil 3:12
He did not say: I am not perfect.
He said, Not as though I were already perfect. He is talking about an attitude about being perfect; he is showing humility and modesty, the opposite of boasting.
From the Word of the Lord within: "Modesty: be modest in all things."
This case is strongly supported in the next verses. Read Footnote 3 below.
_______________________________________