Section 12
and prize. Furthermore, He has called you to stretch forth toward the goal.
Some Christians may argue that the prize in 3:14 does not refer to enjoyment in the millen nial kingdom. Again I say, even if you disagree with this interpretation, you cannot avoid the fact that God does have a prize for us. Accord ing to the context of Philippians 3, both the goal and the prize are Christ. Otherwise, why would Paul say that Christ had gained him so that he might gain Christ? In verse 12 he says, "I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus." Then in verses 13 and 14 he continues, "Broth ers, I do not yet reckon myself to have laid hold, but one thing—forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I pursue toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." I urge you to care for the fact that God has set up a goal and prepared a prize. I also urge you to care for the need to run a good race and to pursue Christ by forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forth to the things which are before. I believe that the things which are before are things concerning Christ and His Body, the church. Let us all forget the things