Philippians 3:8 kjv
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 3:8 nkjv
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:8 niv
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:8 esv
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:8 nlt
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ
Philippians 3 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Philippians 3:7 | "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." | Fulfillment/Echo of verse 8. |
| Romans 8:18 | "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." | Parallels counting present loss for future, greater gain. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:57 | "But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." | Underlines that all "gain" apart from Christ is insignificant compared to victory in Him. |
| Matthew 13:46 | "Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." | Analogy for valuing Christ above all earthly possessions. |
| Galatians 1:14 | "And profited in the Jews' religion above many mine equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers." | Earlier Paul's "gain" which he now esteems as "loss." |
| Acts 20:24 | "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." | Paul's complete dedication to Christ's ministry, despising personal cost. |
| John 1:16 | "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." | Christ is the source of all true gain; knowing Him means receiving His fullness. |
| Ephesians 3:19 | "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." | "Knowing Christ" leads to a deeper, incomprehensible understanding of His love. |
| 2 Corinthians 4:17 | "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" | Similar sentiment of present temporary loss for eternal glory in Christ. |
| Matthew 6:33 | "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." | Points to seeking God and His kingdom as the ultimate, true gain. |
| Colossians 1:27 | "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" | "Knowing Christ" includes understanding His indwelling presence and hope. |
| Philippians 3:9 | "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" | Clarifies why knowing Christ is gain – it's through Him one has true righteousness. |
| Proverbs 3:13-14 | "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the benefit of it is better than the profit of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold." | Wisdom (especially Christ, the Wisdom of God) is more valuable than earthly riches. |
| 1 John 5:12 | "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." | Emphasizes the exclusive, all-encompassing value of possessing Christ. |
| Isaiah 53:11 | "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." | Christ's knowledge brings justification and salvation to many. |
| Jeremiah 9:23-24 | "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these will I have pleasure, saith the LORD." | Direct parallel about true boasting in knowing God, not in human accomplishments. |
| 2 Timothy 3:15 | "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." | Links knowledge of scripture to wisdom unto salvation through faith in Christ. |
| Romans 11:33 | "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" | Highlights the incomprehensible richness of knowing God/Christ. |
| Luke 14:33 | "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple." | Discipleship requires relinquishing all earthly "gain" for Christ. |
| 1 Corinthians 1:30 | "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" | Christ is the sum of all spiritual benefits, rendering other "gains" superfluous. |
Philippians 3 verses
Philippians 3 8 Meaning
Paul declares that all his former achievements and standings are not just worthless, but rather a "loss" or "dung" when compared to the supreme value of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord. He deliberately forfeits everything previously considered gain to infinitely greater gain.
Philippians 3 8 Context
In Philippians chapter 3, Paul is warning the Philippian believers against Judaizers who insisted on circumcision and adherence to Jewish law for salvation and spiritual standing. Paul contrasts his own background – impeccably Jewish and religiously zealous (verse 5) – with his current, transformed perspective. He enumerates his former "gains" like his pedigree, his strict adherence to the Law, and his fervent zeal, all of which he now regards as "loss" because they obscure the supreme excellence of knowing Christ Jesus. This verse is the climax of that argument, stating his valuation: his former advantages are truly less than nothing compared to the immense value of intimate knowledge of Jesus. The context is the defense of the gospel of grace against those who would add legalistic requirements.
Philippians 3 8 Word Analysis
- "Yea": (Greek: malista) An adverb, meaning "even more," "especially," or "indeed." It intensifies the preceding statement, indicating a greater degree of his re-evaluation. It's a strong confirmation.
- "and": (Greek: kai) A coordinating conjunction, linking the previous statement (counting all as loss) with the immediate declaration.
- "count": (Greek: hegoumai) A verb meaning "to reckon," "to consider," "to think," or "to deem." It signifies a deliberate and reasoned judgment. Paul has actively and consciously made this assessment.
- "all things": (Greek: panta) Refers comprehensively to every single thing previously listed or implied as valuable in his life from a worldly or religious (but not Christ-centered) perspective.
- "but": (Greek: de) A conjunction indicating contrast. It highlights the shift in perspective from earthly values to heavenly ones.
- "loss": (Greek: zemia) Noun meaning "damage," "loss," "penalty," or "detriment." It's a strong term for incurring a financial or personal deficit. Here, it means his former assets are now liabilities or devalued assets in God's economy.
- "for": (Greek: huper) A preposition meaning "for the sake of," "in behalf of," or "in place of."
- "Christ": (Greek: Christou) The title meaning "Anointed One," referring to Jesus. This is the singular focus and the reason for the re-evaluation.
- "Jesus": (Greek: Iesou) The personal name of the Savior. The combination "Christ Jesus" is common in Paul's epistles and emphasizes both His divine mission and His personal identity.
- "my": (Greek: mou) Possessive pronoun indicating ownership.
- "Lord": (Greek: kuriou) A term of authority and sovereignty. By calling Jesus "Lord," Paul asserts His ultimate dominion over his life.
- "Indeed" / "Even": (Greek: mallon) Adverb meaning "more," "rather," "in fact." This reinforces the idea that knowing Christ is not just equal to his former gains, but superior to them, making the re-evaluation even more emphatic.
- "I count them": (Greek: hegoumai auta) The verb is repeated with the pronoun "them" (referring back to "all things" and his previous gains), reasserting his conscious decision.
- "damage" / "loss": (Greek: zemia) Again, the same term emphasizes the definitive nature of his calculation. He perceives all his former achievements as detrimental in the context of gaining Christ.
Group Analysis:
- "Yea, and count all things but loss for Christ Jesus my Lord": This phrase encapsulates Paul's radical re-evaluation of his life's worth. The intensity of "yea" and the comprehensive nature of "all things" emphasizes that no aspect of his former life was exempt from this re-appraisal. The preposition "for" establishes that Christ is the sole objective and beneficiary of this act of "counting loss." His Lordship over Paul is the ultimate justification for such a sacrifice.
Philippians 3 8 Bonus Section
The Greek word zemia (loss) itself carries a strong sense of damage or penalty, implying that continuing to hold onto his former credentials would actually incur a penalty in God's sight. It suggests that the self-sufficiency and pride these achievements fostered were obstacles to a true and humble reliance on Christ's righteousness. Paul's deliberate choice to declare these as "loss" is not passive resignation but an active, zealous divestment from anything that could hinder his deeper union and knowledge of Christ. The phrase "Christ Jesus my Lord" positions Christ not only as the object of knowledge but as the ultimate sovereign authority over whom Paul's life is now aligned.
Philippians 3 8 Commentary
Paul unequivocally states that everything he once valued – his impeccable Jewish heritage, his adherence to the Law, his passionate zeal, and his status among his peers – are not merely insignificant but are actively considered "loss" when set against the unparalleled value of intimately knowing Jesus Christ. He willingly discards his former assets to acquire the immeasurably greater treasure of relationship with Christ. This profound shift demonstrates that true gain in God's economy comes from abandoning self-reliance and human achievement to embrace Christ by faith. It's a call to radical re-prioritization, where Christ is supreme over all else.
Practical Usage Examples:
- When facing a decision that offers worldly success but compromises one's commitment to Christ, remember Paul’s evaluation: the potential success is actually a "loss" compared to remaining faithful.
- If past accomplishments or spiritual gifts lead to pride or overshadow Christ, recall Paul’s re-assessment to bring focus back to Him.
- When opportunities for ministry arise that require significant personal sacrifice, the Philippians 3:8 perspective encourages seeing the sacrifice not as a loss, but as an investment for the ultimate gain of knowing Christ more deeply.