epekteinomai describes pressing forward toward what lies ahead while leaving what is behind.

In Philippians 3:13, the participle depicts an ongoing reaching forward toward “the things ahead,” set alongside forgetting “the things behind.”

1. Reaching forward toward what lies ahead · dominant

   In Philippians 3:13, ἐπεκτεινόμενος is a present middle participle in the clause contrasting forgotten things behind with movement toward things ahead; the APB renders the clause “reaching out to the things ahead.”

   Philippians 3:13

In the Anselm Project Bible: In Philippians 3:13, the APB presents the clause as “reaching out to the things ahead.” This rendering confirms the clause's forward orientation rather than isolating every aspect of the term.