I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Parallel translations
- KJV I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
- BSB I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
- NKJV I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
- NASB I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
- NLT I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul presses toward the finish line to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ. The whole Christian life aims at this God-given goal.
Overview
The racing image culminates: the 'goal' is the finish line and the 'prize' is the fullness of life with Christ, the upward call of God. This calling is 'in Christ Jesus,' meaning both its origin and its reward are found in him. The prize is not earned by striving but received by grace, yet it rightly motivates wholehearted pursuit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Cor 9:24Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.
- 1 Pet 5:10But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
- Rev 3:21He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.
- 2 Tim 4:7–8I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.
- Rom 8:28–30We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
- 1 Th 2:12to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.
- 2 Pet 1:3seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;
- Heb 3:1Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus;
- 1 Pet 1:3–4Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- 1 Pet 1:13Therefore prepare your minds for action, be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ —
- Heb 6:1Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection — not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,
- 2 Cor 4:17For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
- 2 Th 2:13–14But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;
- Rom 9:23–24and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory,
- Luke 16:16The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The one who, being in the form of God, emptied himself to the point of death on a cross and was exalted to the name above every name — the joy and prize of the believer.
How Philippians 3:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.