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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended." But if Paul had not as yet apprehended, and is not confident about the Resurrection and things to come, hardly should they be so, who have not attained the smallest proportion of his excellence. That is, I consider that I have not as yet apprehended all virtue, as if one were speaking of a runner. Not as yet, saith he, have I completed all. And if in another place he saith, "I have fought the good fight" (2 Tim. iv. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Since he had previously praised the Philippians greatly, now, humbling their thoughts, he says: I too, your teacher, do not yet consider myself to have attained full perfection — just as if someone were to say of a runner that he has not yet completed the entire course. How then does he say in another place: "I have finished the course" (2 Tim. 4:7)? But he said that in view of death. I do one thing, he says, I strive for one thing only — to always move forward. …
Clement of Alexandria
And it occurs to me to wonder how some dare call themselves perfect and gnostics, with ideas of themselves above the apostle, inflated and boastful, when Paul even owned respecting himself, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ. …
Western Saints
Jerome
Put the past out of mind. Set your mind to the future. What he has reckoned perfect today he ascertains to have been false tomorrow as he reaches for ever better and higher goals. By this gradual advance, never being static but always in progress, he is able to teach us that what we supposed in our human way to be perfect still remains in some ways imperfect. The only perfection is the true righteousness of God.
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, brethren, I do not consider..., he explains what he had said: first, about his lack of perfection; secondly, the consequence (3:13b). He says: I do not consider that I have made it my own. As if to say: I am not so vain as to attribute to myself something I do not yet have; but I press on toward the goal. This can be taken in three ways: In one way thus: but one thing I do, namely, forgetting what lies behind... I press on toward the goal. …
Bernard of Clairvaux
There is a charity in act, and there is one in affection. And concerning that which is of work, I think the law was given to men and a commandment was formed: for who so possesses it in affection as it is commanded? Therefore the one is commanded for merit, the other is given as a reward. We do not deny that divine grace can grant its beginning indeed, and its progress, to be experienced even in the present life; but its consummation we firmly reserve for future happiness. …
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