Philippians 3 - upward calling

^.13Brothers, I do not calculate myself to have taken-hold², but one-thing: indeed forgetting the-things behind but stretching-out-on the-things in-front,

^.14I pursue according to (the) target into the prize of the upward calling of God.

Paul writes: I pursue (in the good sense of following or proceeding earnestly after)...

o   in accordance with (in conformity and proportion to/with)

o   the target (the object that is to be scoped, watched, looked at intensely by me so as to determine my own action carefully; the Greek word translated “target” comes from the same root as the words translated “overseers” in Philippians 1:1, and the verb “to scope” in Philippians 2:4 and 3:17)

o   into the prize (with a view to, directed to, and resulting in the garland, which is only awarded to the victor/winner of a race)

o   of the upward calling of God (this prize pertains to God's upward invitation, the calling which is above, over, in an upward direction; figuratively referring to the fact that this calling is heavenly, coming or proceeding from God [some Greek texts include the words “in Christ Jesus”]).

God has issued His invitation to all of mankind by means of the Lord Jesus Christ, and all holy-people accepted it at the moment when we believed what God says regarding Himself and His son, and thus we received the gift of holy spirit.

Paul uses athletic terminology in verse 14 which draws attention to holy-people and the truth of being together moving in the direction of the same objective, being on the same team in the same contest.

At a future time we will receive all that God has promised to us in Christ Jesus our Lord – we will receive the prize to be awarded to every holy-person who is running in the race at the present time.

[Reference: I Corinthians 9:24 and 25; II Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 1:18, 4:1 and 4; II Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 3:1; II Peter 1:10.]