great argument in chapter 2, to realize that the apostle is turning back to

the `mind that was in Christ Jesus'.  The Received Text reads at verse 16:

`Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the

same rule, let us mind the same thing'.

The use in the A.V. of the word `attain' in Philippians 3:11,12 and 16

to represent three different Greek words, has robbed the English reader of

the means to appreciate the transition of thought in the apostle's argument.

We have already observed that in verse 12, the word should be `obtain', we

now draw attention to the original of verse 16, where phthano is the word

translated `attain'.  Dr. Bullinger's Concordance and Lexicon here says,

`phthano, to come or go before another, to be beforehand with, to overtake,

outstrip; to come first'.  It is this word that is found in 1 Thessalonians

4:15 and translated `prevent' which is from the Latin provenio `to come

before'.  The recognition of this Greek word `to outstrip', while it brings

us closer to the apostle's language, makes the suggested translation offered

by Lewin untenable, `but whereunto we have outstript, walk in the same'.

While it is of the very nature of a race that competitors should endeavour to

outstrip others, the race set before the believer would appear to the

worldling as though the prize was awarded to the last man in rather than the

The Great Example of chapter 2, appeared at all points to be giving

away advantages.  His humble follower Paul, pursued the prize while at the

same time counting all things loss.  Whoever won a race, and `esteemed the

affairs of others, of far more importance than his own' (Phil. 2:3)? In this

competition there is no thought of elbowing the weak brother out of the way,

but rather of losing place and pace while we pause to help him on to his

feet.  The apostle exhorted the runner to `lay aside every weight' yet at the

same time revealed that the law of Christ called upon every entrant `to bear

one another's burdens'.  This somewhat paradoxical state could obtain only in

the realm of grace.  The hymn expresses something of this quality when it

`Through weakness and defeat,

He won the mead and crown;

Trod all His foes beneath His feet

By being trodden down'.

Some MSS. omit the words `by the same rule, let us mind the same

thing'.  Others omit the word `rule'; yet others omit `let us mind the same

thing'.  Griesbach simply cancels the whole passage, and many critics take it

for granted that the reference to the `rule' has crept in from Galatians

6:16, which is a gratuitous piece of criticism.  The `rule' kanon refers to

`the white line by which the course in the stadium was marked out, including

the whole space between the starting -place and the goal, and that those who

ran out of that space did not contend lawfully.  The runners, in endeavouring

to pass one another, were in danger of going out of that space' (Hammon

quoting Julius Pollux, a.d. 180 -238).  Aquila uses the word kanon in his

Greek version of Job 38:5.  The apostle taught the Ephesians that the spirit

of wisdom and revelation was given `in the acknowledgment' of Christ, so here

in Philippians the apostle says, `I follow along the mark' kata skopon dioko,

`and as many as would be perfect' and obtain the prize, they too will `think

this'.  There are other things, such as the observance of one day above

another, or the eating or not eating of certain foods, in which there will be

considerable differences of opinion, but provided that all press on in the