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Time after Pentecost · Proper 22 · Year A

Philippians 3:4b-14

No Confidence in the Flesh

October 4, 2026

Terracotta Panathenaic Prize Amphora (runners), Attributed to the Euphiletos Painter
Terracotta Panathenaic Prize Amphora (runners), Attributed to the Euphiletos Painter, ca. 530 BCEThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
A Greek prize jar from about 530 BC, filled with the oil awarded to the winner, with runners painted in black figure around its belly.I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call: Paul's metaphor is a footrace for a prize, and this is the actual prize.Attributed to the Euphiletos PainterAn unnamed Athenian vase painter of the sixth century BC, identified by style and named after an inscription on one of his jars.The Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe largest art museum in the Americas, founded in 1870 by a group of New Yorkers who wanted one and had no collection to start from.The Metropolitan Museum of Art
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 21:33-46Mt 21:33-46
EpistlePhil. 3:4b-14Phil 3:4b-14
Old TestamentIsa. 5:1-7Is 5:1-7
PsalterPs. 80:7-19Ps 80:7-19

Overview & Insights

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

First Conclusion: Call to Rejoice “With this communication about Epaphroditus now the epistle seems to be at an end” (Ewald, ad loc.). If so, nothing remains but a final word of greeting. The reader is therefore prepared for Finally.

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Take it further: Philippians 3:4b-14

Commentary

Commentary on Philippians 3:4b-14Commentary on Phil 3:4b-14 Working Preacher

The Lutheran home commentary on righteousness by faith and pressing on.

Philippians 3:4b-14 CommentaryPhil 3:4b-14 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on counting all as loss and running the race by grace.

Philippians 3 - Knowing ChristPhil 3 - Knowing Christ Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical study of surpassing worth, faith-righteousness, and the goal.

Philippians Commentaries and SermonsPhil Commentaries and Sermons Precept Austin

A gateway to inductive word studies and cross references across Philippians.

Philippians 3:4 CommentariesPhil 3:4 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on Paul's credentials and their loss.

Philippians 3:4 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryPhil 3:4 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.

Background & Word Study

Philippians 3:4 InterlinearPhil 3:4 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and lexical helps.

Philippians OverviewPhil Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Paul's prison letter to the Philippians.

The Church Fathers

Philippians 3 (Catena)Phil 3 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on knowing Christ and straining toward the prize.

Questions preachers ask

What does Paul count as loss?

Paul lists his impeccable credentials and then counts them all loss compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:4b–8). Righteousness comes not from the law but through faith, so he presses on toward the goal.

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