Philippians 3:13 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Brethren, I count not myself, &c.— No, my brethren, I do not imagine that I am yet arrived at the goal; but this one thing I do: regardless of what is behind, and intent only to reach what is before, I press forward to the mark, for the prize to which God has called me from above by Christ Jesus. Heylin. Mr. Peirce thinks the most exact grammatical construction of the words is this, "I press after that one thing for which I have been apprehended by Jesus Christ, that I may apprehend or attain it; neglecting the things behind, and stretching forward to those before. After this one thing (I say) I press, according to the aim I have fixed to myself, that I may obtain the prize of the high calling," &c. But the construction may be clear enough, by supplying (as in our translation) the words I do, or I can say. The Apostle continues his allusion to the Olympic games, and especially the foot races, which made the most celebrated part of them; where the prize was placed in a very conspicuous situation, so that the competitors might be animated by having it still in their view. Some interpreters think that the Apostle compares our Lord in this verse to those who stood on an elevated place at the end of the course, calling the racers by their names, and encouraging them, by holding out the crown, to exert themselves with vigour. But it seems more consistent to interpret the high calling, as alluding to the proclamation by which men were called before the opening of the course to contend for such and such a prize; which answers to the general declaration of the heavenly prize made in the gospel.