"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
— Philippians 3:14 (NIV)
Philippians 3:14 is the "press on toward the goal" verse, Paul's picture of the Christian life as a race run toward a finish line. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in Philippians 3, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about calling, Bible verses about perseverance, and Bible verses about endurance.
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The verse
The King James reads: "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
"Press" is dioko (G1377), to pursue or chase hard. "Goal" (KJV "mark") is skopos (G4649), the target a runner keeps in view. "Prize" is brabeion (G1017), the award given to the winner of a race. "Heavenward" (KJV "high") is ano (G507), upward, and "called" is from klesis (G2821), a calling or invitation.
Where it sits in Philippians 3
Earlier in the chapter Paul lists his credentials and then says he counts them as loss compared with knowing Christ. Right before verse 14 he admits he has not arrived: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Philippians 3:12). Then: "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead" (Philippians 3:13).
A few verses later he names where the race ends: "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).
What the verse is saying
Paul is not describing a goal he set for himself. The prize is the one "for which God has called me," and it is found "in Christ Jesus." Pressing on means keeping your eyes forward instead of living in past failures or past successes.
Paul uses the same race picture elsewhere: "Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24), and near the end of his life, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). Hebrews adds, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1).
Questions people ask
What does Philippians 3:14 say?
In the NIV it says, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." The KJV reads, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
What is "the prize" in Philippians 3:14?
The Greek word brabeion was the award for the winner of a race. In context the prize is the full life with Christ that God calls believers to, the hope Paul describes as citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20).
What does "forgetting what is behind" mean?
In Philippians 3:13 Paul means he does not let the past define him, whether his religious credentials or his failures. He keeps his attention on what is ahead.
Is Philippians 3:14 a good verse for graduation or a new season?
Yes. It is a common pick for graduations, new jobs, and fresh starts because it points forward. Just keep the verse's own focus: the goal is God's calling in Christ, not personal achievement alone.
What other verses are like Philippians 3:14?
1 Corinthians 9:24 (run to get the prize), 2 Timothy 4:7 (I have finished the race), Hebrews 12:1 (run with perseverance), and Isaiah 40:31 (they will run and not grow weary) are close companions.
