Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Not that (oux oti). To guard against a misunderstanding as in John 6:26; John 12:6; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Philippians 4:11, Philippians 4:17.
I have already obtained (hdh elabon). Rather, "I did already obtain," constative second aorist active indicative of lambanw, summing up all his previous experiences as a single event.
Or am already made perfect (h hdh teteleiwmai). Perfect passive indicative (state of completion) of teleiow, old verb from teleiov and that from telov (end). Paul pointedly denies that he has reached a spiritual impasse of non- development. Certainly he knew nothing of so-called sudden absolute perfection by any single experience. Paul has made great progress in Christlikeness, but the goal is still before him, not behind him.
But I press on (diwkw de). He is not discouraged, but encouraged. He keeps up the chase (real idea in diwkw, as in 1 Corinthians 14:1; Romans 9:30; 1 Timothy 6:11).
If so be that (ei kai). "I follow after." The condition (third class, ei--katalabw, second aorist active subjunctive of katalambanw) is really a sort of purpose clause or aim. There are plenty of examples in the Koin‚ of the use of ei and the subjunctive as here (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1017), "if I also may lay hold of that for which (ef w, purpose expressed by epi) I was laid hold of (katelhmfqhn, first aorist passive of the same verb katalambanw) by Christ Jesus." His conversion was the beginning, not the end of the chase.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Luke 9:13
1 Corinthians 9:24
1 Corinthians 9:27
1 Corinthians 14:5
Philippians 3:11
Philippians 3:15
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Revelation 11:5
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