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"And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go
on their way they are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and
bring no fruit to perfection" (Luke 8: 14).
It therefore appears that without singleness of purpose failure is practically certain. It
demands a high spiritual standard to be able to say the "one thing" of this chapter, yet
without it all else seems of little worth.
"The Mark" (Phil. 3: 14).
pp. 116-119
Taking the A.V. rendering as it stands, verse 14 makes the apostle state that he pressed
"toward the mark". A reference to the original, however, will show that this rendering is
not a clear statement of the apostle's intention. He does not say, "I press toward the
mark"; what he does say is, "according to a mark, I press toward the prize". It is the prize
toward which he presses, and it is the mark according to which he runs. The mark
therefore is not the goal, it is not the object in view, but rather it is the rule and the guide.
While the prize is the important thing to keep in view, it is very evident that inattention to
the rules of the contest will jeopardize the claim. We will not therefore consider the
question of the mark too small for a little careful study.
Skopos, mark, is something at which one looks. The word occurs nowhere else in the
N.T., but in its verbal form it occurs six times. In Luke 11: 35 it is, "take heed";
in Rom. 16: 17, it is, "mark them which cause divisions. . . . and avoid them".
In II Cor. 4: 18 it is, "while we look not at the things which are seen", and in
Gal. 6: 1 it is, "considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted". In Phil. 2: 4 we find it
in the exhortation, "Look not every man on his own things", and in 3: 17, "Brethren, be
followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for as ensample".
While the references outside the epistle to the Philippians are of service in showing
the word is to be understood, the two references from the epistle itself are all we need to
explain to us the "mark" according to which the apostle presses on to the prize.
These two references supply us with the positive and the negative meanings of the
word, and we shall be equipped for the race only when these two passages are understood
and incorporated into our daily life.
Let us consider first The Positive (2: 4). Immediately the apostle tells the Philippians
to "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others",
he follows with the wondrous example of Christ Himself, "Let this mind be in you which
was also in Christ Jesus". In chapter 3: 15 the apostle follows his references to the
mark with the words, "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded", and gives
a solemn warning concerning those who "mind earthly things". To understand the mark
therefore we must understand the teaching which is intended for us in the passages where
the mind is mentioned. Phroneġ, to mind, comprehends the operation of the