Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

of sanctification. (R. Gromacki) Paul is thinking of the Philippian's progress along the Christian
path, marching forward in line. (K. Wuest) Fidelity to the Truth (Bible doctrine) is a condition for
receiving further revelation. (M.R. Vincent) In exact accord with the fact that Christians are to be
governed only by the teachings of grace, the Biblical appeal in grace never contemplates an
observance of the law. Through the death of Christ, the law is not only disannulled, but as a rule of
life, it is never mentioned, or included in the teachings of grace. It is rather excluded. The believer is
to walk by a “rule,” but that rule, it will be seen, is never an adaptation of the law. (L. Chafer)
He has in mind a thought-out and maintained lifestyle, based on and displaying the truth of Christ as
the individual knows it. The individual believer is free to work out a rule of thought and behavior in
the light of the Word of God. This is the way of Christian progress, for we will constantly develop in
both our beliefs and our conduct as God allows more and yet more light to break forth out of His
Word … Education, growth to maturity, involves risk, for it has to make room for trial and error.
Thus God ‘takes the risk’ of giving us His Word. We need the ‘trial and error’ of living by Scripture
in order to grow: to discover what the Bible teaches, put it to the test, find where we were mistaken,
return and try again. The risk is not all that great! For Paul does not expect us to achieve everything
on our own. There is a God who is over all, Whose irresistible purpose is to make us like His Son. (J.
Stott) Paul means simply this that, having coming this far, the thing to do is to go in the same path in
which we have been traveling so far. A needed lesson for Christians weary with the monotony in
religious life and work. (A.T. Robertson)
Although provision is made for failure, the purpose of momentum testing is not failure but success.
Paul has shifted from an athletic to a military analogy. The verb “stoicheo” connotes marching in
ranks. “What we have attained” is spiritual self-esteem when the believer is undergoing providential
preventative suffering. “What we have attained” is spiritual autonomy when undergoing momentum
testing, as is Paul in this context. “What we have attained” is spiritual maturity when the believer
receives evidence testing. The same system that the believer uses to pass providential preventative
suffering and momentum testing must also be used to pass evidence testing. “Advancing in ranks” is
a most significant translation. Far too many Christians fall out of ranks and become casualties in the
angelic conflict. They are losers who fail to execute the protocol plan of God and fail to glorify Him
... The believer advances in ranks from one stage of spiritual adulthood to the next. As he progresses,
he scores tactical victories in the angelic conflict. This spiritual warfare will come into dynamic
focus in the final category of suffering for blessing. Spiritual maturity puts the believer in position
for the most significant and beneficial of all suffering for blessing: evidence testing that glorifies
God to the maximum. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.)
Philp. 3:16 By means of which (Acc. Means; by that same
function of grace apparatus of perception) we attain the
objective (fqa,nw, AAI1P, Constative; overtake, reach,
spiritual maturity). In any case (continuative), keep
advancing in rank (stoice,w, PAInf., Progressive, Imperatival;
by the discipline of Bible teaching, command to follow in
Paul's footsteps, standing beside him or lining up with his
teaching; a soldier's steady advance) towards it (Dat. Adv.;