Philippians 3:7-9

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

8 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

9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

things (v.7) = what sort of things

gain (v.7) — plural, “gains” — like a miser counting his money

loss (v.7) — singular, “damage” — his assets became liabilities

Paul’s righteousness under the law (verses 4-6), he counted loss (past tense with continuing results). He counts (present tense) all things loss except the knowledge of Christ.

excellence (v.8) = the surpassing thing

knowledge (v.8) — through intimate fellowship and close association — knowledge that affects the heart, not just mental knowledge

suffered the loss (v.8) — Paul counted everything as a liability — lit. “forfeited”

rubbish (dung/refuse) (v.8) — lit. (plural) bits of refuse, as the leavings of a feast thrown to the dogs

gain (v.8) — same word used in verse 7

gain Christ (v.8) — not salvation but the acquisition of Christ’s perfections

be found (v.9) — not searching, but a legal term — an experience that bears testimony — “turn out to actually be”

from the law (v.9) — out of, as a source

in Christ (v.9) — by means of

from God (v.9) — out of, as a source

by faith (v.9) — by means of

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