OET interlinear PHP 3:14

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον

to /the/_goal ˱I˲_/am/_pursuing for the prize

In this verse Paul continues using the metaphor of a runner who is competing in a foot race in order to win a prize. In this verse Paul says that his goal, which he works hard for, is to win the prize which God promises to give every person who obediently follows Christ. If this metaphor would be unfamiliar in your culture, consider using another metaphor, or use plain language to translate the idea behind this metaphor. Alternate translation: “I do all I can to pursue the goal of winning the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus” or “I work hard so that I can reach my goal”

σκοπὸν & εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ

/the/_goal & for the prize ˱of˲_the upward calling ¬the ˱of˲_God

The phrases the goal and the prize could be related to each other in one of two ways. They could: (1) be focusing on the same basic idea. Alternate translation: “the goal, which is to be given the prize of God’s upward call” or “my goal, which is to receive the prize of God’s upward call” (2) be focusing on different things, in which case the goal is referring to the goal of Paul’s life, while the prize is referring to what Paul hopes to receive once he has successfully achieved his goal. Alternate translation: “the goal and toward being given the prize of God’s upward call” or “the goal and toward receiving the prize of God’s upward call”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ

the prize ˱of˲_the upward calling ¬the ˱of˲_God

The phrase the prize of the upward calling of God could mean: (1) that the prize is the upward calling of God. Alternate translation: “receive the prize of God’s upward call” or “receive the prize of God’s heavenward invitation” (2) that the upward calling of God is a call to come and receive God’s prize. Alternate translation: “answer God’s upward call to receive his prize” or “answer God’s invitation to receive his prize”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ

˱of˲_the upward calling ¬the ˱of˲_God

The word upward probably refers to both the origin of God’s call and to the direction of God’s call. In other words, the phrase the upward calling of God probably refers both to the fact that the calling is from God and that the calling is also a heavenly calling to move towards God. Alternate translation: “God’s heavenward call”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

to /the/_goal ˱I˲_/am/_pursuing for the prize ˱of˲_the upward calling ¬the ˱of˲_God in Christ Jesus

The phrase in Christ Jesus could be: (1) modifying the phrase the upward calling of God. (2) modifying the phrase I press on. Alternate translation: “I press on in Christ Jesus toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

to /the/_goal ˱I˲_/am/_pursuing for the prize ˱of˲_the upward calling ¬the ˱of˲_God in Christ Jesus

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of a goal, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun goal in another way. Alternate translation: “I make it my main focus to win the prize of God’s upward calling in Christ Jesus”