Philippians 3:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What is "this"? It is that one must forget what lies behind. Therefore it is the mark of the perfect not to consider oneself perfect.

How then do you say, "As many of us as are perfect"? Tell me, do we think as you think?

If you have not attained and have not been perfected, why do you command the perfect to think the same thing that you think, though you yourself are not yet perfect?

Because, he says, this itself constitutes perfection.

"And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you." That is, if anyone thinks otherwise, that he has accomplished every virtue.

The Apostle warns the Philippians, but he did not speak in that way. What did he say? "And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you."

Therefore, as many of us as are perfect, let us think this way. What is this? To forget what lies behind. It is the mark of a perfect man not to consider himself perfect, because perfection consists in not relying on oneself. “And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” Here Paul gives hope to the Philippians. If, he says, you think you have done everything, God will show you what is required, since you do not know. This is said about perfection of life, and about their not considering themselves perfect.

Maturity of faith and sobriety of judgment.

The Apostle calls himself both imperfect and perfect. His imperfection appears in the fact that he still lacks so much of the righteousness whose fullness he desires.

His perfection appears in the fact that he is not ashamed to acknowledge his imperfection and advances along the path of perfection.

Thus we may say that a traveler is perfect when his arrival is secure. Yet the intention would not be perfect if the arrival did not take place.

All of us, running the course in a perfect manner, must understand that we are not yet perfect.

Our hope is that we may become perfect there to which we are going.

Therefore, those who have considered themselves perfect, though they ought not to think this about themselves, should think as I think. And if anyone thinks otherwise than what I have recognized as very useful for you, God will reveal this also to you.

We ought to hold such thoughts concerning the rewards set before us. Even if we do not know precisely what they are, we must know that God, the Judge of the contest, will show this to us.

If, because of the human inclination to err, we take something as the clear meaning, we must not refuse a deepening of understanding through the grace of revelation. Otherwise, what we once understood in our own way may make us ashamed when our thought changes. Concerning this, the blessed Apostle Paul wrote wisely and moderately to the Philippians: “Therefore, as many of you as are perfect, let us think this way; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.”

Paul should be understood in this way: if you receive and understand differently something of what we say, you may think so. I allow it to you. Remember that here he is speaking about perfect people, for he said, “Therefore, as many of us as are perfect.” And the words, “God will reveal even this to you,” are well spoken, because they include both what you think and what I have said.

St. Nilus also speaks about perfection: "Two perfections must be acknowledged. One is temporal, and the other is eternal.

Of the eternal the Apostle writes: 'But when that which is perfect comes, then that which is in part will be done away' (1 Cor 13:10).

The words 'when that which is perfect comes' show that here we cannot contain divine perfection."

Again: "The divine Paul knows two perfections. He recognizes one and the same man as both perfect and imperfect.

With respect to the present life he calls him perfect, but with respect to his true and proper perfection he calls him imperfect.

“Therefore, as many as are perfect, let us think this way.” Perfection here means apostolic maturity, as opposed to the infant state of faith (1 Cor. 3:1). For those who are perfect in faith, it is fitting to forget what lies behind and stretch forward to what lies ahead. Infants, however, are better encouraged by pointing to what they have done and stirring them to greater and greater struggles. “And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” By these words the Apostle warns the Philippians not to think otherwise. Or better, he requires that only those think otherwise to whom the Lord has revealed it, something no opponent of the Apostle could claim.

After the Apostle's humble words noted above, his further words deserve special attention.

All mystical sects that reject the hierarchical authority of the teachers of the Church wrongly appeal to them, hoping for inward illumination and instruction from the Holy Spirit.

"Therefore, as many of us as are perfect, let us be thus minded. And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you" (Phil 3:15).

This does not mean that everyone should reason and teach as best he can, and then God will reveal the truth afterward.

No. In connection with the context, the meaning of the apostolic words is different.

When he says that "all of us who are perfect should think thus," the Apostle means thoughts about righteousness and a humble way of thinking.

Teaching the right way of thinking to Christians who strive toward perfection, the Apostle urges them to keep in mind the comparative degrees of perfection.

He urges hope for the revelation of higher spiritual wisdom. Until receiving it, they must remain firm in the perfection already attained and not deviate from the basic rules of faith and life.

For this they must use living guidance, first from the Apostle himself, and afterward from his faithful followers.

"The mark of the perfect is not to consider himself perfect," says St. John Chrysostom.

"In any society of persons, all are never on the same level. Some are always better, others worse, and some are very good and stand out from the rest.

Earlier the Apostle says that he has not yet attained and has not yet been made perfect. But here he says, "as many of us as are perfect," and numbers himself among them: "let us think this way."

What is his thought? Perhaps this: those among you who think that they are already perfect.

The Apostle learned that among the Philippians there were some who thought highly of themselves, and he leads them to humility of mind.

Earlier he had already instructed them by the example of the Lord, who humbled Himself for our sake. Now he instructs them by his own example.

He shows how he thinks of himself, though he is a God-chosen Apostle.