September
September 1
Chapter 3, Verse 12, con’t, “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.”
Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, Christou Iēsou, “Christ Jesus.” Every time I come across this combination, I have to pause and give thanks. Christ is both a title and appelative in the New Testament depending on word order. Since the word can mean anointed one or, as I prefer, Messiah (because in the Greek Old Testament-Septuagint it is used to translate מָשִׁיחַ, messiah), here it is “Messiah who is Jesus,” and elsewhere “Jesus who is Messiah.” Of course, Jesus was and is a common name form of Old Testament Joshua, meaning “YHWH who saves.” So, either way it is used, Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world to save mankind from the penalty of sin. He is the only Messiah.
September 2
Chapter 3, Verse 12, con’t, “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.”
Now, verses 11 & 12 make perfect sense (the already did). All the stuff about “by any means possible” and “not that I have already. . .” are completely dependent on and a natural (supernatural) result of “Christ Jesus has made me his own.” From Greek, without accommodation for modern readers, “I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” κατελήμφθηνn katelēmphthēn, “I was laid hold of,” is a verb for that tells me something has already happened that has lasting effect. In other words, I am saved, now what do I do about it? Paul makes that clear. I do everything I can to become more like Jesus so that when people see/hear me, they recognize I belong to him.
September 3
Chapter 3, Verse 13, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”
This is the second of three times in this chapter Paul refers to his readers as brothers. ἀδελφοί , adelphoi, means a brother or a member of a specific religious community (male & female), specifically Christian, and was for Paul a term of affection. It is one he used to focus attention on a specific idea. He has already told the brethren to rejoice and look out for those who are false worshippers. Now, on the heels of his discussion about doing his best to become the best disciple possible, he prepares his readers for the next logical step in their walk: do not look back and get bogged down.
September 4
Chapter 3, Verse 13, con’t, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”
In the first part of this sentence, Paul said ἐγὼ ἐμαυτὸν οὐ λογίζομαι, egō emauton ou logizomai, “I myself not do consider;” In other words, he had given careful and constant consideration to the facts of his own life. He actually thought about where his life was going and how it affected others. He reasoned, he considered, he concluded, instead of acting compulsively. Opening my mouth and speaking without considering the result often gets me in trouble as does doing something without first thinking it through. We could avoid a lot of personal heartache if we would just think before we speak and act.
September 5
Chapter 3, Verse 13, con’t, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”
“That I have made it my own” is κατειληφέναι, kateilēphenai, “to have taken hold (of it),” a different form of the same word used twice in verse 12. Interestingly, “it” is not in the verse, but rather implied. “It” is, of course, the important idea here because used as a noun it represents something elsewhere. Over and over in these few verses, 11-13, Paul is clearly referencing a form of discipleship that is just as rare today, maybe even more, than it was in his day. Unreserved, bold, unrelenting, daily recognition of the need by believers to be effective witnesses through Christlikeness is the message. Am I that sort of Christian?
September 6
Chapter 3, Verse 13, con’t, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”
These words are quite an amplification of ἓν δέ, hen de, “one thing however.” But I get it. The idea is intact. Paul is sharing extreme focus and direction. Because he is so intent on reaching his disciple/Christlikeness goal, he realizes there are certain things he must do. It is no different today nor has it ever been different. When we identify character traits and/or habits that hold us back from effective service to God, we must find a way to jettison those things. The biggest thing most of us, if not all of us, have to face is selfishness. We have to learn to be other focused to properly serve and God by serving others.
September 7
Chapter 3, Verse 13, con’t, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”
Sometimes, I cannot help but look over my shoulder to see what is going on behind me. That is okay for a brief moment, but not for extended periods and over and over again. ἐπιλανθανόμενος, epilanthanomenos, “forgetting,” does not mean you don’t remember what happened in the past, it means you have gotten over it and have come to the place you do not let it affect today in order to protect the future. Looking back over and over slows you down and can get you off track–like biking, looking back, losing control, and hitting a ditch. If you constantly find yourself worrying about the past, the first thing to do is stop worrying at all; get a sense of trust back into your own life, and move forward with God.
September 8
Chapter 3, Verse 13, con’t, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”
I like baseball–might even be a little fanatical following one team for 50+ years. I have seen a lot of diving catches in the outfield and players banging against the wall as they reach high to prevent a home run. And they do this over and over in spite of all the times they miss at the wall and face plant on the field. ἐπεκτεινόμενος, epekteinomenos, “reaching forward,” straining in the ESV, is the word that describes this action on the field and in everyday life. For the person who wants to move forward with God, or for that matter, move forward in everyday normal walking around life, you must learn to look past prior mistakes and failures. Nearly every great success recorded in history required great risk. With God, though, even if like looks risky, be assured that ultimate victory is yours because you are in God’s hands.
September 9
Chapter 3, Verse 13, con’t, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”
If you are straining forward, reaching out to catch what is in front of you, it must be something important. Paul tells us what it is in verse 14. Before we get there, I have a question. What is there in my life that is worth reaching out for to make sure I get a firm grasp on it and do not lose it? The easy answer is just–the future. I can see all around me that some things are going to get worse–at least marginally. The world is a mess and society is on a downward spiral. But the good news, in fact, the best news is that I do not belong to this world. I have to live in it, but when my life on earth is over, I am going to live with God. That is worth straining.
September 10
Chapter 3 Verse 14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Some days, when I get up and remember that I have been reading this very eery week for over 45 years, I just want to go back to bed. But, I press on, διώκω, diōkō. Actually, diōkō means to aggressively chase, hence, press on or pursue as in trying to catch up with someone. Pressing on in life is nothing more than not giving up and quitting. And I know exactly how to keep doing it day after day–purpose. God has saved me. I serve him by serving others. It is a wonderful privilege to serve my family, friends, and church. That is what keeps me going. I wonder what drives others to keep going in life?
September 11
Chapter 3 Verse 14, con’t, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
The only place in the New Testament where the word is used, σκοπὸν, skopon, “goal”, is from σκοπός, skopos, from which we get “scope” in English; it is like taking aim at a target with a rifle scope, or bringing into sharp focus. It can also mean the end marker or finish line in a foot race. In the present context, it refers to the final objective of a life of faith in Christ, living in God’s presence. Most of us have goals in life, to have more, go more, work less–generally, to enjoy life. It has been said that if yo do not set a goal, you will not reach one. Aside from all the worthy goals of life that give us more, what about this most worthy goal of being with Christ? I am so glad that I know that goal is set for me; it is in sight, and it will not be long until I get there.
September 12
Chapter 3 Verse 14, con’t, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
When you are entered in a race, and you are the first to cross the finish line, typically, a prize awaits you. Back in high school, at track meets, mine was usually a few cheers and a pat on the back. That did not amount to much but, for me, it was huge at the time because I did not “fit in” with the popular kids. I still have some trophies and certificates all stored away in a box somewhere. They remind me of good days. In this verse, βραβεῖον, brabeion, used only here and in 1 Corinthians 9:24, describes that which is given to a victor after a triumph. What is most beautiful about this is that Christ is the victor and because of my faith in him, I get the reward.
September 13
Chapter 3 Verse 14, con’t, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
When I was a kid growing up on a large farm, every morning after sunrise, my granddad, myself, or another family member would walk to the gate past the big barn where the milk cows grazed to call them in for milking. They were always there, waiting. Why? The knew they were going to be fed by the farmer/master and give back their best offering–fresh milk. κλήσεως, klēseōs, “calling” in this verse is that sort of call and Paul knew it was coming to him and to all who know Jesus in faith. Upward means away from this world and above the fray into the presence of God. Whether by death of the body or rapture, I know that my call is coming soon. God has given me a wonderful life but I cannot imagine the life to come.
September 14
Chapter 3 Verse 14, con’t, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
A goal, an effort, a prize, and a call–all are part of God’s plan for every true believer. It is a call the incorruptible crown, the crown of life, eternal righteousness, and glory that does not fade (James 1:12, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 5:4). This is the effectual call to all believers to receive the prize in Christ meaning it is in heaven and in his hand alone to give. I must not miss this great picture in scripture–God the Father and God the Son always move in the same direction in and outside of time and space. And while he is not expressly mentioned here, none of this happens without Holy Spirit who is the power and influence to make it happen. I am thankful for God who is 3-in-1.
September 15
Chapter 3, Verse 15, “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that to you also.
“Those of us” is just Ὅσοι, Hosi, “As many as” in the original text. So, who is Paul talking about? Who are those or many? Before I look at the idea of being mature, I want to think about this inclusive and exclusive group of those/many. Very simply, they are believers–believing Jesus was the sinless Savior who invaded our world to give his life a ransom for sin, personal, devastating, damning sin. They are people who believed with a repentant heart, that is, being sorrowful for their sinfulness, and accepted Jesus and Jesus alone by faith to save them from their sin. And they are believers who do more than just believe. They act in the faith to help others see Jesus.
September 16
Chapter 3, Verse 15, con’t, “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that to you also.
–Looked in the mirror. What did I see? Old. I do not suppose 70 is really old, but it feels like it is, sometimes. But mature, I do not know about that. That word, τέλειοι, teleioi, [are] mature, can be frustrating. Typically, it is translated as mature or perfect, the latter being even more concerning. In the current context, it means having achieved a life state wherein knowledge and wisdom from God has reached a level whereby you are able to think and conduct yourself at full strength spiritually. I am not there yet, but I am working on it. How? I read my Bible more, I think about what I read more, I pray more, and I try to listen for God’s prompting more to determine what to do next to help others know him better.
September 17
Chapter 3, Verse 15, con’t, “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that to you also.
OK, I am older, wiser and less apt to get into things I shouldn’t, so why is it still difficult sometimes to think right? τοῦτο φρονῶμεν, touto phronōmen, means “should be of this mind”–this mind, what mind? To have a specific mindset, you have to focus on something–an idea, a person. In this case, I believe the focus is on a future. Jeremiah 29:11, ‘”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” God wants me to think about everything in view of what Jesus has already done for me, what his doing in my life right now, and what he has in store for me in eternity.
September 18
Chapter 3, Verse 15, con’t, “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that to you also.
I consider myself thoughtful and inquisitive. For me, that means I read a lot. And I do not limit my reading to things theological. Current events, sports, and science–especially science, are all part of my daily reading. On occasion, what I call a “side bar” will lead me away from a subject and invariably take me to a place where very low, sometimes nonexistent moral standards are presented. That can cause me, if not very careful, to consider ideas that have no place in the mind of a believer. My response is at first internal, stop and consider, and then retreat from the worldly and focus on the godly.
September 19
Chapter 3, Verse 15, con’t, “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that to you also.
When I let my dogs out, I check to make sure the gates are closed. When my son was little, I watched him play outside to be sure he did not wander off. I did this because I care. When I am out with my wife, I look around us checking for suspicious behavior because I love her. We need to know that God, who loves us more than we are capable of loving anyone, reveals things to us to protect us. He is not trying to catch us in a misdeed, he is showing his immense love for our lives. ἀποκαλύψει, apokalypsei, “reveal,” means to shed light upon something–something hidden or dark. It is the light of God’s word and his presence that lovingly shows us the parts of our lives that may cause self-harm. He does not want that to happen. He wants us to see the truth.
September 20
Chapter 3, Verse 16, “Only let us hold true to want we have attained.”
This verse is about staying on course. It is an added exhortation to verse 15. The limitation is “only,” telling us to live within certain guidelines but also to avoid ideas that would lead us away from God. As far as I can tell, the only way to overcome the pitfalls of wrong thinking, bad decisions, and even worse conduct, is to know the right way to think and act and then only adhere to those things. “Hold true” means to get on the right path and stay on it. That takes a lot of effort when so many voices are trying to turn us away from God. Once again, it is about focus.
September 21
Chapter 3, Verse 16, con’t, “Only let us hold true to want we have attained.”
Holding is about not giving up on the truth for sure, but Paul is also telling us not to backup, that is, go back to where we were before we knew the truth–about discipleship. Far too often, people who claim to have been saved, walk right back into the worldly lifestyle they claim to have left for the cause of Christ. Either their young, weak faith was overcome by evil–or–they never really came to faith in Christ to begin with. When I see this happening, I must try to rescue them with the truth of the word and pray that Holy Spirit will intervene with his awesome power to open their spiritual eyes to reality.
September 22
Chapter 3, Verse 17, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
As he often does, Paul addresses ἀδελφοί, adelphoi, “brothers.” These are people who are already in the faith and generally moving in the same direction as Paul. Otherwise, why would he call them brothers? Here, he wants to take them to a place some, maybe most of them, have never been before, to a fully committed, intentional walk with Christ that requires much more than lip service and showing up for worship. To join Paul, they would have to give up a lot, lay down some habits, and take up their own cross of personal sacrifice for the kingdom.
September 23
Chapter 3, Verse 17, con’t, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
In this part of the verse, there are three key words: brothers, join, and imitate, the latter two as expressed in many English tests coming from a single Greek word, Συμμιμηταί, Symmimētai, “immitators together.” I think it significant to examine them separately. The request here is for people to join Paul. While it can be viewed as exhortation, the response to the call is entirely voluntary. There is no conscription here, just like there is no demand from God to be saved. To join something, you must be willing, recognizing the value you will receive by locking arms with whatever/whoever you are invited to join. The other important aspect of joining is participation. Do not join if you do not expect to take part. To do so makes your joining a sham.
September 24
Chapter 3, Verse 17, con’t, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
I am still looking at Συμμιμηταί, Symmimētai, “immitatiors togethers,” thinking about what it was that Paul wanted the brothers to see in him and, thereby, want to emulate in their own lives. I am sure I do not know them all, but some I do. He wanted them to be absolutely surrendered and committed to Jesus and the gospel. He wanted them to be bold in sharing their personal faith and leading others to faith. He wanted them to be on guard, watching for false teachers. He wanted them to be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. And he waned them to loook forward to the reward for being faithful. Nothing has changed in 2,000 years. I must do the same as the brothers of Paul.
September 25
Chapter 3, Verse 17, con’t, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
This interesting clause, σκοπεῖτε τοὺς οὕτω περιπατοῦντας, skopeite tous οὕτω περιπατοῦντας, “observe those thus walking,” is Paul’s way of saying give sincere contemplation (observe) to those who are conducting their lives (walking) in the manner I have taught them as they have learned to imitate my conduct. It is important for those of us who know the truth of God’s word to be good examples for others to follow and to have teachers for ourselves who follow the teaching of the word. The love of God in Christ Jesus as presented in the gospel is the first clue to a bible teacher who is true. No gospel–no follow.
September 26
Chapter 3, Verse 17, con’t, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
Example and model are two common translations of τύπον, typon. Another, and I believe better translation, is pattern. In high school, I remember taking home economics on a dare from all my football buddies. I was the only guy in the class. One of the assignments was to sew a garment from a pattern. I chose a shirt, a dress shirt. I had watched my mom cut out dress patterns, and I knew three things: choose material carefully, cut form the pattern slowly, and sew the pieces meticulously on the machine. In other words, be very cautious what you choose to copy. The same is true for spiritual leaders/advisers you choose to emulate. Be sure they are following Jesus before you copy them.
September 27
Chapter 3, Verse 18, “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”
This must be one of the saddest sentences Paul ever wrote. κλαίων, klaiōn, “weeping,” translated here “tears,” describes a sense of mourning or a saddened heart more than actual crying. For Paul, and for any true believer in Christ, there will always be a sense of emotional pain when we observe someone, especially someone we care about deeply, living their lives in opposition to God. Apparently, Paul was surrounded by many who were against the cause of Christ and probably vocal about it. The truth is often met with such response .Sadly, nothing much has changed in 2,000 years.
September 28
Chapter 3, Verse 18, con’t, “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”
ἐχθροὺς, echthrous, “enemies,” is a strong word and for good reason. It was used in Paul’s day to describe someone who was openly hostile with a deep seated hatred, and who was personally bent on inflicting harm. That sort of enemy is easy to identify. They are loud and foul. But there is another sort of enemy that is just as dangerous–the silent ones. They do not openly criticize, they do not cause trouble, they just turn their backs, close their eyes, and plug their ears to God. The saddest part is they do not even realize they are enemies. Satan has lulled them into a false sense of self-righteousness. Still, all those who oppose God will have to give an account to him someday.
September 29
Chapter 3, Verse 19, “Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things.”
As I read the conclusion to chapter three, I am reminded of Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Why don’t people find the narrow gate? They are not looking for it. They are blinded by sin and walking in darkness (1John 2:11). The only focus they have is the one assigned by the world. In this generation, media has so confused the minds of people that they see truth as lies and lies as truth. Sadly, they have no idea their destruction is imminent.
September 30
Chapter 3, Verse 19, con’t, “Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things.”
This seems to be a strange phrase/idea for just a moment, until I think about the times I would have done just about anything for a bag of Oreos. Feeding the flesh, as it were, is both literal and figurative in this verse. κοιλία, koilia, “belly,” is used to describe the abdomen, generally, but also to describe the heart, or inner man–that which drive us to act on something. You don’t have to look far to see people who feed their belly far too often. That is the gluttony part. The spiritual aspect Paul is referencing is when people only care about serving their own selfish lives at the peril of their soul without considering the eternal consequences.
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