The term "outstrip" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept of surpassing or exceeding others in various contexts is present throughout the Scriptures. The idea of outstripping can be understood in terms of excelling in faith, righteousness, or spiritual growth, as well as in more worldly pursuits.

Biblical Context and Usage:

1. Spiritual Excellence:
The Apostle Paul often encourages believers to strive for spiritual excellence, urging them to "press on" toward the goal of their heavenly calling. In Philippians 3:13-14 , Paul writes, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus." Here, the concept of outstripping is evident in the pursuit of spiritual maturity and the ultimate prize of eternal life.

2. Righteousness and Holiness:
The call to outstrip others in righteousness is seen in Jesus' teachings. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges His followers to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. Matthew 5:20 states, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." This passage emphasizes the need for a deeper, more genuine righteousness that surpasses mere legalistic observance.

3. Love and Good Works:
Believers are encouraged to outstrip one another in love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 exhorts, "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds." The idea here is to excel in demonstrating love and performing acts of kindness, thereby setting an example for others to follow.

4. Worldly Pursuits:
While the Bible acknowledges the human tendency to outstrip others in worldly achievements, it often warns against the dangers of pride and self-reliance. In Ecclesiastes 4:4 , Solomon observes, "I have seen that every labor and every success is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind." This verse highlights the futility of striving to outdo others for selfish gain, contrasting it with the eternal value of spiritual pursuits.

5. Humility and Servanthood:
The concept of outstripping is also inverted in the teachings of Jesus, who emphasizes humility and servanthood. In Mark 9:35 , Jesus teaches, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all." Here, the call is to outstrip others not by seeking personal glory, but by serving others selflessly.

Theological Implications:

The biblical perspective on outstripping others is deeply rooted in the values of humility, love, and spiritual growth. While excelling in various aspects of life is not inherently wrong, the motivation and manner in which one seeks to outstrip others are crucial. The Scriptures consistently point believers toward a life that prioritizes spiritual excellence, genuine righteousness, and selfless love over worldly competition and pride.(v. t.) To advance beyond; to leave behind; to outrun.4390. protrecho -- to run forward, ie run in advance
... outrun, run before. From pro and trecho (including its alternate); to run forward,
ie Outstrip, precede -- outrun, run before. see GREEK pro. see GREEK trecho. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4390.htm - 6k

"The Truth. " Some Generals Proposed.
... 4. An outward, moral, civil and discreet carriage, which no man can blame, and wherein
a heathen can outstrip many called Christians; so that it must be a poor ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter x the truth some.htm

True Wisdom.
... Go into the army and you find the same thing"one trying to outstrip the other;
everyone is very anxious to shine and rise above his comrades. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/the overcoming life/true wisdom.htm

"Ye are the Light of the World. "
... You go into the army and you find the same thing"one trying to outstrip the other;
every one is very anxious to shine and rise above his comrades. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/moody/to the work to the work/chapter ix ye are the.htm

How Christ is the Way in General, "I am the Way. "
... How many heathens, as to this, shall outstrip such as profess themselves Christians?
and yet they lived and died strangers to the right way to happiness. ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter iii how christ is.htm

When Turbo had Made this Statement, Archelaus was Intensely ...
... [1542] Thereupon Marcellus sent forthwith for Archelaus, who arrived so quickly
as almost to outstrip the word, and on entering was greatly tempted at once to ...
/.../12 when turbo had made.htm

The Life of Mr. Andrew Gray.
... of youthful vanity, or affectation of human literature, though he had a most scholastic
genius and more than ordinary abilities; that he did outstrip many that ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr andrew 3.htm

"Eternal Sin"
... Again we read that in the last time there will arise an enemy of God so unparalleled
that his movement will outstrip all others, and be "the falling away," and ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 3 28-30 eternal sin.htm

Treatise on the Priesthood. Book I.
... and faithfully observed them; but out of this large number there was one who excelled
all the rest in his attachment to me, striving to outstrip them as much ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/treatise on the priesthood book.htm

God's Fellow.
... by love. The emergency may sorely test and tax love to its last limit,
but it can never outdo it, nor outstrip it in the race. No ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks with world winners/gods fellow.htm

Lo! Death, the King of Silence, Complains, My Brethren
... the fulfilment."18. With me is no holding back, no turnings aside: I wot
no arrow even, could outstrip me."19. But your voices ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn lxii lo death the.htm

Outstrip (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To advance beyond; to leave behind; to outrun.
Multi-Version Concordance Outstrip (1 Occurrence). ...
/o/outstrip.htm - 6k

Out-stretched (17 Occurrences)
Out-stretched. Outstretched, Out-stretched. Outstrip . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WBS). Outstretched, Out-stretched. Outstrip . Reference Bible.
/o/out-stretched.htm - 11k

Outstripped (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Outstrip. Multi-Version Concordance
Outstripped (2 Occurrences). Galatians 1:14 and how ...
/o/outstripped.htm - 7k

Outrun (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (pp) of Outrun. 2. (vt) To exceed, or leave behind, in running; to run faster
than; to outstrip; to go beyond. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/o/outrun.htm - 6k

Distance (75 Occurrences)
... 15. (vt) To outstrip by as much as a distance (see Distance, n., 3); to leave
far behind; to surpass greatly. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/d/distance.htm - 29k

Strip (33 Occurrences)
... last of a milking; as, to strip a cow. 6. (vt) To pass; to get clear of;
to outstrip. 7. (vt) To pull or tear off, as a covering ...
/s/strip.htm - 18k

Outstrip: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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