What Does Philippians 3:12 Mean in the King James?
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The purpose you are reaching for is already the reason Christ Jesus has reached for you.
THE MEANING
You are not yet at the goal, but you are already within Christ Jesus’ grasp, moving toward the purpose of that grasp. Your unfinishedness and your being claimed are both true at once.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that you must already be complete for Christ Jesus to have taken hold of you.
THE ROOT
καταλάβω
katalabō
GROWS FROM
λαμβάνω
lambanō
To take or receive; in καταλαμβάνω, the compound carries the force of laying hold, overtaking, or grasping.
“apprehend” in this verse is katalabō. The same verb describes both Christ Jesus taking hold of you and your reaching to take hold of the purpose. What looks like a one-way pursuit in English is a movement that begins with an prior grasp.
ALSO GROWS
lambanō: Take; receive.
λαμβάνω
This core verb holds taking and receiving together, opening a sense of pursuit that begins with what has already been received.
paralambanō: Receive; take along.
παραλαμβάνω
This related form carries the same taking-and-receiving root into the idea of something being taken into one’s company.
τετελείωμαι
teteleiōmai
GROWS FROM
τελε-
tele-
Bring to completion; bring to an intended end or goal.
Here, ‘perfect’ carries the sense of being brought to completion or to the goal. The verse holds that goal in view while plainly saying it has not yet been reached.
ALSO GROWS
telos: End; goal.
τέλος
The goal is the destination already shaping the pursuit.
teleios: Complete; mature.
τέλειος
This related word shows how completion can mean reaching maturity or the intended end.
διώκω
diōkō
GROWS FROM
διωκ-
diōk-
Pursue; chase after.
“follow after” in this verse is diōkō. This is pursuit with the force of a chase, not a vague wish to improve. Earlier in this chapter, the same verb names the speaker’s ‘persecuting’ pursuit; here that force is directed toward the purpose that has already taken hold of him.
ALSO GROWS
diōgmos: Persecution; pursuit.
διωγμός
The noun preserves the forceful chase inside the verse’s word for pursuit.
diōktēs: Pursuer; persecutor.
διώκτης
The related noun names the one who pursues, showing how much force the verb carries.
THE PATTERN
The path you pursue grows from a prior claim and calling.
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.THE THREAD
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.The word translated ‘obtain’ is the same Greek verb rendered ‘apprehend’ here. In both verses, pursuit reaches to take hold of its goal; Philippians adds that this goal is already bound to the one who first took hold of you.
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