Philippians 3 7

Philippians 3:7 kjv

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Philippians 3:7 nkjv

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Philippians 3:7 niv

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

Philippians 3:7 esv

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Philippians 3:7 nlt

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

Philippians 3 verses

Philippians 3 7 Meaning

The Apostle Paul is stating that what he once considered to be valuable gains and merits, specifically in the realm of his religious life and observance of the Mosaic Law, he now regards as utterly worthless and even harmful due to his superior knowledge of Christ Jesus. This re-evaluation stems from the unparalleled worth and transformative power of knowing Christ.

Philippians 3 7 Context

Philippians 3:7 comes in the midst of a discourse where Paul is passionately arguing for the superiority of knowing Christ Jesus over any humanly achieved righteousness, particularly that which was sought through adherence to the Mosaic Law. He had been contrasting the conditional security of those who trust in outward rituals with the true and complete righteousness found in Christ. This section follows Paul's identification of himself as an example of one who once relied on "the flesh" (religious privileges, circumcision, lineage, and zealous observance of the Law) but has been transformed by the Gospel. The Philippian believers were facing subtle pressures from Judaizers who insisted that Gentile Christians needed to adopt Jewish customs and Law-keeping for complete salvation.

Philippians 3 7 Word analysis

• ἀλλὰ (alla): "But" - A strong adversative conjunction, highlighting a stark contrast with what was previously stated or implied.

• μᾶλλον (mallon): "Rather," "more so," "more" - Intensifies the following statement, emphasizing the degree of change in Paul's valuation.

• hgmoun (hegumai): "I count," "I consider," "I regard," "I reckon" - A verb of estimation or judgment. Paul's deliberate and reasoned conclusion about his former gains.

• de (de): "But," "and" - A mild adversative or conjunctive particle, often used to connect clauses smoothly. Here, it connects the negative assessment of former gains to the reason.

• th panta (ta panta): "all things," "everything" - Encompasses all of Paul's previous religious achievements, privileges, and esteemed status.

• hgmoumai (hegoumai): "I count," "I consider," "I regard" - Same verb as earlier, emphasizing his ongoing considered judgment.

• skubala (skubala): "dung," "refuse," "rubbish," "garbage," "trash" - A strong, offensive term. Paul considers his former religious merits to be utterly worthless and even repulsive in comparison to Christ. The exact origin and strength of this word are debated, but its impact is undeniably powerful, suggesting extreme contempt for what he once valued.

• ina Xpistou` (hina Christou): "that I may gain Christ" - This clause expresses the purpose or result of discarding his former gains. It is the supreme objective of his life. The genitive "Christou" can indicate possession or source. It is Christ Himself whom he seeks to gain.

• Grouped Analysis:

  • "But rather I count all things loss for the sake of Christ": This highlights the conscious decision and deliberate re-prioritization. It's not an accidental shift but a chosen path driven by a superior value. The phrase "for the sake of Christ" ("iou tou Christou" - genitive) shows Christ as the reason, the aim, and the prize. His previous possessions were traded for the infinitely greater possession of Christ.
  • "and count them as rubbish/dung": The parallel structure ("count... and count them") emphasizes the consistent application of his judgment. His former gains aren't just unimportant; they are actively deemed offensive and valueless by comparison to Christ.

Philippians 3 7 Bonus Section

The word "skubala" is a strong, even vulgar, term. Its use reveals the depth of Paul's conviction that his past religious standing was not merely inadequate but actively detrimental to his relationship with Christ. It demonstrates that human effort in religious observance, when detached from faith in Christ, leads away from true righteousness. Paul's experience here is a powerful testimony to the transformative nature of the Gospel, causing a complete reversal of what one considers valuable. This "counting as rubbish" is not a pessimistic outlook on life but an optimistic embrace of the ultimate gain found in Christ, the pearl of great price. It underlines the exclusivity of Christ as the object of true desire and the source of all worth.

Philippians 3 7 Commentary

Paul asserts that his previous religious credentials, including his birth as an Israelite, his circumcision according to the Law, his impeccable adherence to Pharisaic teaching, and his zealous persecution of the church, are all secondary and worthless compared to the immeasurable value of knowing Jesus Christ. He treats these former achievements as worthless refuse—"dung" or "rubbish"—that he has intentionally cast aside. The singular purpose behind this radical re-evaluation and discard is to win Christ. All other "gains" pale in comparison to the unparalleled treasure of intimate union with and knowledge of Jesus Christ, the source of true righteousness, redemption, and eternal life. This reflects a profound shift in his entire value system, where Christ alone is the ultimate objective.