The Meaning of Philippians 3:16 Explained

Philippians 3:16

KJV: Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

YLT: but to what we have come -- by the same rule walk, the same thing think;

Darby: But whereto we have attained, let us walk in the same steps.

ASV: only, whereunto we have attained, by that same rule let us walk.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Nevertheless,  whereto  we have already attained,  let us walk  by the same  rule,  let us mind  the same thing. 

What does Philippians 3:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

All Christians, but especially the immature who are in view here, need to maintain a consistent life in harmony with our understanding of God"s truth. We should not wait until we have a complete knowledge of what God has revealed to put into practice what we do understand.

Context Summary

Philippians 3:13-21 - Pressing On "unto The Prize"
The nearer the saint comes to the perfect life, the farther he feels from it. It is only when we have climbed the foothills that we realize how lofty the mountain summits are. But there is no need for discouragement. We have eternity before us, the expanding landscape of truth is our inspiration, and the loving Spirit of God bears us upward on eagle's wings. Our Savior had a distinct purpose in view when He apprehended us. Its full scope was only known to Him; let us strive that we may not fail to realize His ideal. We can do this best by forgetting past failures, past sins, and past successes, and pressing on toward the goal. Will not the prize be the Lord Himself? Let us always remember that God's call is upward. This will help us when there seems collision between two duties.
Instead of judging another, let us walk together along the path of obedience. Those who leave the narrow track and still profess godliness are greater enemies to the Cross than avowed antagonists. We are citizens of the skies, who come forth to spend a few hours each day on earth. This is our inn, yonder is our true home. Thence Jesus will come to complete the work of salvation by giving us a body like His own. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 3

1  He warns them to beware of the false teachers;
4  showing that himself has greater cause than they to trust in the righteousness of the law;
7  which he counts as loss, to gain Christ and his righteousness;
12  acknowledging his own imperfection and pressing on toward the goal;
15  He exhorts them to be thus minded;
17  and to imitate him,
18  and to decline carnal ways

Greek Commentary for Philippians 3:16

By that same rule let us walk [τωι αυτωι στοιχειν]
Besides στοιχειν — stoichein is the absolute present active infinitive which sometimes occurs instead of the principal verb as in Romans 12:15. Paul means simply this that, having come thus far, the thing to do is to go “in the same path” (τωι αυτωι — tōi autōi) in which we have been travelling so far. A needed lesson for Christians weary with the monotony of routine in religious life and work. [source]
Nevertheless []
Rev., only. Notwithstanding the minor points in which you may be otherwise minded. [source]
Whereto we have already attained [εἰς ὃ ἐφθάσαμεν]
Whatever real christian and moral attainment you may have made, let that serve as a rule for your further advance. The character of this standard of attainment is illustrated by the words in Phlippians 3:15, be thus minded, and by those in Phlippians 3:17, as ye have us for an example. The individual variations are not considered. He regards rather the collective development, and assumes the essentials of christian attainment on the part of his readers. For attained, see on we are come, 2 Corinthians 10:14. [source]
Let us walk by the same rule [τῷ αὐτῷ στοιχεῖν]
The idea of a regulative standard is implied, but rule κανόνι must be omitted from the Greek text. Rev. brings out the antithesis better: whereunto we have already attained, by that same rule let us walk. Omit let us mind the same thing. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 3:16 mean?

Nevertheless to that which we have attained by the same to walk rule the same mind
πλὴν εἰς ἐφθάσαμεν τῷ αὐτῷ στοιχεῖν ⧼κανόνι τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν⧽

πλὴν  Nevertheless 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: πλήν  
Sense: moreover, besides, but, nevertheless.
  that  which 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἐφθάσαμεν  we  have  attained 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: φθάνω  
Sense: to come before, precede, anticipate.
τῷ  by  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
αὐτῷ  same 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
στοιχεῖν  to  walk 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: στοιχέω  
Sense: to proceed in a row as the march of a soldier, go in order.
⧼κανόνι  rule 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κανών  
Sense: a rod or straight piece of rounded wood to which any thing is fastened to keep it straight.
αὐτὸ  same 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
φρονεῖν⧽  mind 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: φρονέω  
Sense: to have understanding, be wise.