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 declares a fundamental and transformative re-evaluation of his life's prior achievements, privileges, and gains. What he once considered to be valuable assets or merits—such as his heritage, religious standing, and personal accomplishments within Judaism—he now definitively regards as utterly worthless and a complete loss. This radical shift in perspective is not arbitrary but is specifically undertaken "for the sake of Christ," meaning Christ himself is the singular reason and supreme standard by which all other things are judged and found wanting.

Philippians 3 7 Context

Philippians chapter 3 is a powerful discourse by Paul where he earnestly warns the believers against false teachers, specifically those promoting a gospel reliant on human achievement or ethnic identity—often called "Judaizers." Paul, ironically, lays out his own impeccable Jewish credentials (vv. 4-6) to show that if anyone had reason to boast in their flesh or lineage, it was he. These credentials included his circumcision, tribal identity, commitment to the Law as a Pharisee, and zeal as a persecutor of the Church, making him blameless according to the Law's demands. Verse 7, then, marks the pivotal turning point in this argument. It represents Paul's radical break with that entire system of self-righteousness, transitioning from detailing his past advantages to explicitly stating their utter worthlessness when measured against the incomparable value of knowing Christ. This verse sets the stage for his profound declaration in subsequent verses that all those former "gains" are not just losses, but "rubbish" (v. 8) compared to the righteousness found only through faith in Christ.

Philippians 3 7 Word analysis

• But (ἀλλὰ - alla): This is a strong adversative conjunction, signifying a dramatic contrast and introducing a decisive shift from the preceding enumeration of Paul's impressive human accomplishments. It emphatically marks the turning point in his self-assessment.
• whatever (ἃ - ha): A relative pronoun referring to the specific, yet comprehensive, list of Paul's Jewish heritage and legalistic achievements detailed in the preceding verses (Phil 3:4-6). It gathers all those items under one umbrella.
• were (ἦν - ēn): Imperfect tense of "to be," indicating a past continuous state. These things used to be, from Paul's former perspective, sources of value. This contrasts with his current, perfect tense evaluation.
• to me (μοι - moi): Dative case, emphasizing Paul's personal perspective. These were his subjective gains, the things he once held dear and identified with as assets for obtaining righteousness or standing.
• gains (κέρδη - kerdē): Plural noun meaning "profits," "advantages," "benefits," or "acquisitions." In an ancient commercial sense, it represents anything that increases one's standing, wealth, or favor. The use of the plural implies the various forms these benefits took—lineage, obedience, zeal, status—all of which accumulated to what Paul once perceived as spiritual profit.
• I now consider (ταῦτα ἥγημαι - tauta hēgēmai):
  • these things (ταῦτα - tauta): A demonstrative pronoun, again comprehensively pointing back to all the aforementioned "gains."
  • I now consider (ἥγημαι - hēgēmai): Perfect tense of hēgeomai, meaning "I have reckoned," "I have considered," or "I have judged." The perfect tense implies a settled conviction, a definitive decision made in the past with enduring consequences and a lasting effect. It's not a temporary thought but a fundamental, irreversible change of mindset. It reflects an active, conscious, and decisive re-evaluation of values, leading to a permanent change in his valuation system.
• for the sake of Christ (διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν - dia ton Christon):
  • for the sake of (διὰ - dia): A preposition (with the accusative) indicating the reason, cause, or purpose. Christ is not merely the catalyst but the ultimate and sole rationale for Paul's radical change in judgment.
  • Christ (τὸν Χριστὸν - ton Christon): The anointed one, Jesus Messiah. He is the ultimate standard against which all other things are measured. It is the encounter with and relationship with Christ that fundamentally transformed Paul's scale of values, rendering everything else secondary or detrimental.
• loss (ζημίαν - zēmian): A singular noun meaning "damage," "disadvantage," "forfeiture," "injury," or "penalty." It stands in stark contrast to the plural "gains." This signifies that all the varied things Paul once valued are now collectively viewed as a singular, unified detriment when weighed against Christ. It implies not just an absence of benefit, but an active hindrance or even a liability. It carries the idea of having to pay a price or suffering harm by holding onto those "gains" instead of embracing Christ.

Philippians 3 7 Bonus section

This verse reflects a paradigm shift for Paul, moving from a quantitative accumulation of self-merit (plural 'gains') to a singular, qualitative loss (singular 'loss') of everything that previously gave him value. This reorientation highlights the exclusive supremacy of Christ. Anything that competes with or substitutes for Christ as the source of righteousness, identity, or security must be considered detrimental. This includes ethnic identity, religious performance, intellectual achievement, social status, or even personal morality if these are offered as a means to gain favor with God apart from Christ. The language implies an almost economic transaction, where Paul counts up his balance sheet and finds that what he thought were assets are actually debts when the standard is Christ. The perfect tense of "I have considered" (hēgēmai) underscores the finality and settled nature of this valuation. It is not an ongoing struggle but a determined, past decision that defines his present and future reality.

Philippians 3 7 Commentary

Philippians 3:7 serves as the dramatic hinge point in Paul's autobiographical reflection, moving from boasting in self to boasting in Christ. Before Christ, Paul amassed what the world and much of religious society would consider impressive spiritual wealth and impeccable credentials. These "gains" were the very foundation of his identity and standing before both man and, in his former understanding, God. However, upon encountering Christ and receiving true spiritual sight, these perceived advantages were radically devalued. This wasn't merely a passive renouncement but an active, definitive, and permanent recalculation. Paul consciously re-evaluated and reckoned all his prior achievements as liabilities and disadvantages. The singular reason for this colossal shift in perspective is "the sake of Christ" – His supreme value and incomparable worth demanded a total recalibration of Paul's entire existence. Holding onto those former "gains" would have meant spiritual impoverishment, because they diverted him from the ultimate "gain" of knowing and being found in Christ. It's a testament to the transformative power of Christ to redefine all earthly measures of success and righteousness.