PHP 3:14 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) I’m running hard toward the prize of being called up to heaven by God through Messiah Yeshua.

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.

UST Instead, I concentrate only on continuing to become more and more like Jesus until I die. As a result, because of my relationship with Jesus the Messiah, God will reward me in heaven.

BSB I press on toward [the] goal to [win] the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

BLB I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.

AICNT I pursue according to the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.

OEB I press on to the goal, to gain the prize of that heavenward call which God gave me through Christ Jesus.

2DT I am chasing consistent with the scope: God’s upper calling prize in Christos Yēsous.

WEBBE I press on towards the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

WMBB I press on towards the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Messiah Yeshua.

NET with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

LSV I pursue to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

FBV I run towards the finish line to win the prize of God's invitation to heaven through Christ Jesus.

TCNT I press on toward the goal to win the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

T4T Instead, I concentrate only on continuing to become more and more like Christ right up to the end of my life [MET]. As a result, because of my relationship with Christ Jesus, God will call/summon me to receive a reward from him in heaven.

LEB I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

BBE I go forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of God in Christ Jesus.

Moff to press on to the goal for the prize of God's high call in Christ Jesus.

Wymth with my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God's heavenward call in Christ Jesus.

ASV I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

DRA I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus.

YLT to the mark I pursue for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Drby I pursue, [looking] towards [the] goal, for the prize of the calling on high of [fn]God in Christ Jesus.

3.14 Elohim

RV I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

SLT I pursue toward the scope for the prize of combat of the calling above of God in Christ Jesus.

Wbstr I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

KJB-1769 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

KJB-1611 I presse toward the marke, for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus.
(I press toward the marke, for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Yesus/Yeshua.)

Bshps And I prease towarde the marke, for the price of the hye callyng of God in Christe Iesus.
(And I press toward the marke, for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Yesus/Yeshua.)

Gnva And follow hard toward the marke, for the prise of the hie calling of God in Christ Iesus.
(And follow hard toward the marke, for the prise of the high calling of God in Christ Yesus/Yeshua. )

Cvdl & preace vnto ye marck apoynted, to optayne the rewarde of the hye callynge of God in Christ Iesu.
(and press unto ye/you_all mark appointed, to obtain the reward of the high calling of God in Christ Yesu.)

TNT and preace vnto the marke apoynted to obtayne the rewarde of the hye callynge of god in Christ Iesu.
(and press unto the mark appointed to obtain the reward of the high calling of god in Christ Yesu. )

Wycl and pursue to the ordeyned mede of the hiy clepyng of God in Crist Jhesu.
(and pursue to the ordained mede of the high cleping of God in Christ Yhesu.)

Luth und jage nach dem vorgesteckten Ziel, nach dem Kleinod, welches vorhält die himmlische Berufung Gottes in Christo JEsu.
(and yage after to_him before/in_front_ofgesteckten goal/target, after to_him gem, which before/in_front_ofhält the heavenly vocation/calling God’s in Christo Yesu.)

ClVg ad destinatum persequor, ad bravium supernæ vocationis Dei in Christo Jesu.[fn]
(to destinatum persequor, to bravium above callingnis of_God in/into/on to_Christ/Messiah Yesu. )

3.14 Persequor. Eo usque donec veniam ad destinatum bonum. Supernæ vocationis. Id est æternæ vitæ, ad quam vocat Deus, et ideo digna res est, etc.

3.14 Persequor. I_am_going until until I_will_come to destinatum good. Supernæ callingnis. That it_is eternal of_life, to how he_calls God, and therefore/for_that_reason worthy thing it_is, etc.

UGNT κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.
(kata skopon diōkō eis to brabeion taʸs anō klaʸseōs tou Theou en Ⱪristōi Yaʸsou.)

SBL-GNT κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω ⸀εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.
(kata skopon diōkō ⸀eis to brabeion taʸs anō klaʸseōs tou theou en Ⱪristōi Yaʸsou.)

RP-GNT κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω ἐπὶ τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.
(kata skopon diōkō epi to brabeion taʸs anō klaʸseōs tou theou en ⱪristōi Yaʸsou.)

TC-GNT κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω [fn]ἐπὶ τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.
(kata skopon diōkō epi to brabeion taʸs anō klaʸseōs tou Theou en Ⱪristōi Yaʸsou. )

3:14 επι ¦ εις CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–4:1: The Philippians should follow Paul’s example and trust Christ to make them righteous

Paul told the believers to watch out for those who were teaching that believers must be circumcised. He also warned them against those who were proud of doing evil. He encouraged them to follow his example instead. Paul tried to be like Christ and depended on him alone in order to become righteous.

In both 3:1 and 4:1, Paul talked about being joyful. Therefore, it is possible to consider that 3:1 is an introduction to this section and 4:1 is a summary of this section. However, some English versions consider that 3:1a is the final statement in the previous section and so attach it to the end of chapter 2 (REB, NJB, NRSV). You may want to follow whatever the national language version in your area does here.

Paragraph 3:12–16

Paul wanted the Philippians to have the same attitude as he did, the attitude he had as he earnestly tried to become all that God wanted him to be.

3:14a

I press on toward the goal to win the prize

and I continue on until I reach my goal so that I may receive a heavenly reward.
A runner continues running until he reaches the finish line and wins a prize. In the same way, I continue on to the end until I win the prize that God has for me.

I press on: This is the same Greek word as Paul used in 3:12c. See note there. In terms of the race metaphor here, the phrase press on means to keep on running. Paul was comparing himself to a determined runner, going toward his goal and not looking back. What he meant was that he continued trying, to work hard to become more like Christ.

goal: The Greek word that the BSB translates as goal means the “aim, end, object” of something. In the race metaphor, it refers to the finish line which each runner is trying to be the first to cross. But here Paul was probably referring to the thing he had been talking about in 3:10–13. His aim or goal was to become completely like Christ. This would include knowing him completely.

prize: A prize is a reward for winning a race or doing something well. The next note discusses what this prize was.

3:14b

of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

And the reward is that God calls me to go up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus has done for me.
That great prize is God calling me to heaven because Christ Jesus died for me.

of God’s heavenly calling: It is not clear how this clause connects back to “the prize” mentioned in 3:14a. There are two main possibilitiesThere is a third possibility. The following is a comment by Dick Elkins:“Can it be that the prize was going to heaven? God must call someone to heaven before he can receive the prize. But if going to heaven was the prize, then it would seem that Paul was implying that salvation is the result not of faith alone but of faith plus extreme persistence. In the Word Biblical Commentary Hawthorne remarks:‘In keeping with the vivid imagery drawn from the Greek games that pervades this section there is still another explanation that seems the most reasonable explanation of all. It sees in the Greek expression tēs anō klēseōs “the upward call” an allusion to the fact that the Olympian games, which included foot races, were organized and presided over by…highly respected officers, called Hellenokidai. After each event they had a herald announce the name of the victor, his father’s name and his country, and the athlete would come and receive a palm branch at their hands. This is the call to which Paul was here alluding. Such an explanation as this has the virtue of not identifying “the upward call” with the prize, and allows the force of the context to determine what Paul had in mind when he spoke of that prize. For him it was to be found “in Christ,” that is, Christ was his prize. To know Christ fully and completely was the prize for which he had been striving ever since his encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road.’Hawthorne paraphrases: “…the prize that God…will give me when he calls me up and announces my name, the prize that is contained in Christ Jesus.”You could translate this meaning as follows:I keep on going toward the goal to get that prize that God will give me when he calls me to heaven, which is this: he will cause me to become like Christ Jesus.:

It identifies the prize. The prize was that God called Paul heavenwards to make him completely like Christ. For example:
the prize, which is God’s call…to the life above (GNT) (CEV, NET, GNT)
The prize that God called Paul heavenwards to receive. Paul did not identify the prize itself. (NIV, NLT, NCV, GW, REB)

The first interpretation fits the context better here. So it is recommended that you follow it (1).

heavenly: The Greek word here literally means “upwards.”

in Christ Jesus: God can call or invite people to be with him in heaven because of what Christ has done for them. So you could translate 3:14b as:

God calls me to heaven to be with him because of what Christ Jesus has done for me.

General Comment on 3:14

In some languages it may be helpful to reorder this verse. One way to do this would be:

I continue trying hard until God calls me to heaven because of Christ Jesus. In doing this I am like a runner racing toward the finish line to receive a prize.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: κατά σκοπόν διώκω εἰς τό βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ)

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]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

σκοπὸν & εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: κατά σκοπόν διώκω εἰς τό βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ)

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 3 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: κατά σκοπόν διώκω εἰς τό βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ)

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 4 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 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: κατά σκοπόν διώκω εἰς τό βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ)

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 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: κατά σκοπόν διώκω εἰς τό βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ)

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]

Parallel PHP 3:14

Section 3:1–4:1: The Philippians should follow Paul’s example and trust Christ to make them righteous

Paragraph 3:12–16

3:14a

3:14b

General Comment on 3:14