Philippians- 3:13

An Exegetical Examination of Philippians 3:13: The Semantic Nuance of ἐπιλανθανόμενος

This exegetical study of An Exegetical Examination of Philippians 3:13: The Semantic Nuance of ἐπιλανθανόμενος is based on a b-greek discussion from May 15th, 2017. The initial query proposed that the semantic distinction between λανθάνω and ἐπιλανθάνομαι might parallel that observed between ποθέω and ἐπιποθέω, suggesting a nuanced difference imparted by the ἐπι- prefix.

The main exegetical issue under investigation is the precise semantic range and most appropriate translation of the participle ἐπιλανθανόμενος in Philippians 3:13, especially within the context of Paul’s athletic metaphor. While commonly translated as “forgetting,” the discussion highlights a potential richer meaning, perhaps implying an active disregard or intentional turning away from past accomplishments or failures, aligning with the imagery of a runner focused solely on the finish line. This inquiry seeks to determine if a translation that moves beyond a simple “forgetting” might better capture the nuance intended by the Apostle Paul.

Philippians 3:12-16 (Nestle 1904):

12 Οὐχ ὅτι ἤδη ἔλαβον ἢ ἤδη τετελείωμαι, διώκω δὲ εἰ καὶ καταλάβω, ἐφ’ ᾧ καὶ κατελήμφθην ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ. 13 ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ ἐμαυτὸν οὐ λογίζομαι κατειληφέναι· ἓν δέ, τὰ μὲν ὀπίσω ἐπιλανθανόμενος τοῖς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν ἐπεκτεινόμενος, 14 κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. 15 ὅσοι οὖν τέλειοι, τοῦτο φρονῶμεν· καὶ εἴ τι ἑτέρως φρονεῖτε, καὶ τοῦτο ὁ θεὸς ὑμῖν ἀποκαλύψει· 16 πλὴν εἰς ὃ ἐφθάσαμεν, τῷ αὐτῷ στοιχεῖν.

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• Philippians 3:12: SBLGNT includes Ἰησοῦ after Χριστοῦ, reading ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ. Nestle 1904 lacks Ἰησοῦ.
• No other significant lexical or grammatical differences are present in Philippians 3:13-16 between Nestle 1904 and SBLGNT 2010.

Textual Criticism and Lexical Notes

Textual criticism of Philippians 3:13 using critical editions like NA28 reveals no significant variants for the participle ἐπιλανθανόμενος. The form is consistently attested across major manuscripts, confirming its presence in the Pauline autograph. This stability allows for a focused lexical and semantic analysis without primary concern for textual integrity.

Lexically, the primary focus lies on ἐπιλανθάνομαι. BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, Gingrich, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature) notes for this verse a sense of “disregard, put out of mind.” This interpretation suggests a volitional component beyond simple memory loss, implying an active decision not to dwell on past events or achievements. It aligns with the contextual imagery of a runner who deliberately ignores obstacles or past milestones to focus on the finish line.

Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) provides further insight into the distinction between λανθάνω and ἐπιλανθάνομαι. While λανθάνω (to escape notice, to be hidden) generally denotes an unintentional state of being forgotten or unseen, the prefix ἐπι- in ἐπιλανθάνομαι often intensifies or directs the action, suggesting an active or deliberate forgetting, neglecting, or disregarding. This can imply an intentional turning away from something, fitting well with Paul’s exhortation to press forward. The usage in the Acts of Paul, ἐπιλάθου τοῦ πλούτου καὶ τοῦ κάλλους (“disregard your wealth and beauty”), further supports this active sense of putting something out of mind, not merely forgetting it passively.

Translation Variants

The phrase τὰ μὲν ὀπίσω ἐπιλανθανόμενος τοῖς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν ἐπεκτεινόμενος (Philippians 3:13) is a crucial component of Paul’s metaphor of a runner. Grammatically, ἐπιλανθανόμενος is a present middle/passive participle, nominative masculine singular, agreeing with the implied subject “I” (ἐγὼ) from the preceding clause. The present tense indicates a continuous or ongoing action, while the middle/passive voice suggests either “forgetting for oneself” (middle) or “being forgotten” (passive, less likely here given the context of active pursuit). The active sense of “disregarding” aligns better with the middle voice’s implications of the subject initiating the action for their own benefit.

Rhetorically, this phrase creates a strong antithetical parallelism, contrasting “what is behind” (τὰ μὲν ὀπίσω) with “what is ahead” (τοῖς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν). The verbs associated with each, ἐπιλανθανόμενος (forgetting/disregarding) and ἐπεκτεινόμενος (straining forward), vividly portray the runner’s single-minded focus. The ἐπι- prefix in ἐπιλανθάνομαι, as discussed, reinforces a deliberate act of putting the past out of mind, rather than a passive failure of memory.

While a direct lexical parallel to Isaiah 43:18, Μὴ μνημονεύετε τὰ πρῶτα καὶ τὰ ἀρχαῖα μὴ συλλογίζεσθε (“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old”), is not found, the conceptual similarity is striking. Both passages exhort the audience to disengage from past events—whether old covenant expectations or personal achievements/failures—in favor of a future-oriented perspective and divine purpose. This conceptual resonance underscores the active, volitional aspect of “not remembering” or “disregarding” the past.

Various English translations move beyond a literal “forgetting” to capture this nuanced meaning:

• “I don’t look back” (God’s Word / Names of God Bible) – Emphasizes the physical posture of the runner.
• “I leave the past behind” (JB Phillips) – Highlights the abandonment of past experiences.
• “I’m not turning back” (The Message) – Focuses on directional resolve.
• “I’m leaving my old life behind” (The Voice) – Interprets “what is behind” as the totality of past experience.

These translations reflect an understanding that Paul’s injunction is not merely about forgetting in a cognitive sense, but about a practical, intentional disengagement from anything that might hinder the forward pursuit of the “prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14).

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The exegetical analysis of Philippians 3:13 confirms that ἐπιλανθανόμενος carries a semantic weight beyond simple “forgetting.” The context of Paul’s athletic metaphor, the nuance imparted by the ἐπι- prefix, and corroborating lexical data from BDAG and Kittel all point towards an active, volitional disregard or intentional putting out of mind. Paul is not advocating for amnesia, but for a deliberate refusal to be defined or held back by past experiences, whether positive or negative, in his pursuit of Christ. The conceptual parallel with Isaiah 43:18 further supports this interpretation of active disengagement from the past to embrace a future-oriented divine purpose.

Based on this analysis, the following translation suggestions are offered, each emphasizing a distinct yet overlapping nuance:

1. “Instead, setting aside what is behind and straining forward to what is ahead,”
   This translation emphasizes the intentional act of putting past achievements or failures out of consideration, aligning with the active implication of the ἐπι- prefix.
2. “Rather, disregarding the things behind me and reaching out for what lies ahead,”
   This option highlights the active mental and volitional process of ignoring or not dwelling on past experiences, fitting the runner’s focus.
3. “But I, leaving the past behind and pressing on toward what is in front,”
   This suggestion captures the comprehensive abandonment of the former state, encompassing both thoughts and actions that are no longer relevant to the current pursuit.