Dari Masa Lalu Menuju Panggilan: Studi Kualitatif-Eksegetis Filipi 3:13-14 Tentang Pertumbuhan Karakter Spiritual

Abstract

The past never completely disappears from a person’s life. Failure, sin, wounds, success, status, and achievement may remain present through memory and through the way people evaluate themselves. Philippians 3:13-14 presents Paul as refusing to let what lies behind become the center of his identity. This study aims to explain the meaning of forgetting what lies behind, reaching forward to what lies ahead, and pressing toward the goal in relation to spiritual character growth. The study uses a qualitative method with an exegetical approach through historical, grammatical, and theological readings of Philippians 3:4-16, with particular attention to Philippians 3:13-14. The research data consist of the New Testament text, the argumentative structure of Philippians, and relevant journal studies on theology and character formation. The analysis indicates that forgetting does not mean erasing memory or denying the past, but refusing to make the past the primary measure of identity and direction. Paul reevaluates his religious advantages, directs himself toward knowing Christ, and continues to pursue God’s calling. Spiritual character growth therefore moves through three interconnected movements: releasing the domination of the past, directing oneself toward a new orientation in Christ, and pursuing the calling with perseverance. The novelty of this study lies in the concept of spiritual reorientation toward the past, which addresses not only wounds and failures but also success and pride that can hinder maturity. The Release, Reorient, and Pursue model is proposed as a framework for spiritual character formation and responsible pastoral accompaniment.