For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

3:12   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.

Let’s remember that this letter includes some of the greatest exhortations to humility in the Bible, through the example of the Master, and of His servants Timothy and Epaphroditus. Let’s not forget Paul, in that he provides direction to live a life a humility, and that he exhibits that same characteristic throughout the letter. 

This is evident in this passage, as he makes no claim to accomplishment, even though in terms of Christian ministry, very few could boast of his efforts. 

Of course none have attained a physical resurrection on this side of the grave, so could he be breaching something else as he brings this truth to our attention. Is he speaking of a status within the Christin life? A perfection?

Consider the previous verse

….that I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained it (the resurrection from the dead) or am already perfect.

To be perfect! Paul uses the Greek word τελειόω teleióō, which is somewhat different than my initial understanding of perfection, or of a status dependant on character or spirituality. Somewhat akin to a sinless perfection. No Paul is not speaking of that condition, but when he brings up being perfect in this verse, he is referring to completion, or accomplishment, crossing a goal or finishing a course. This thought is very much related to Paul’s earlier use of the term “attain”. This portion of the word is speaking of crossing a goal, or to bring to an end a certain assignment.

Hence the humility, for he is not going to let the Philippians consider him to be on a different plane of spiritual life than they are, but that he is still actively working out his salvation. He hadn’t arrived yet!

That is good news, for I often think of Paul as a man that could not be related to, that was so different as a believer that he was somewhat different, somewhat unapproachable.

Yet his example of humility and desire to press on is challenging to say the least. In his maturing of service to the Lord, he did not “rest on his laurels”, an attitude that is so easy for many of us to fall into.

Consider Paul’s life and attitude in this verse and try to relate. 

Have you “rested on your laurels” somewhat?

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