Philippians 3:7

Philippians 3:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
• New International Version (NIV)But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Context of Philippians 3:7

5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless. But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Philippians 3:7 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ἅτινα ἦν μοι κέρδη, ταῦτα ἥγημαι διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ζημίαν·Read the interlinear

• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• whateverὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• gainκέρδοςkerdos · gainG2771
• to meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• I count asἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• lossζημίαzēmia · damage/lossG2209
• for the sake ofδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for Philippians 3:7

• Philippians 3:4though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
• Genesis 19:17As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”
• Job 2:4“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.
• Proverbs 13:8Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
• Proverbs 23:23Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
• Matthew 13:44The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.
• Matthew 16:26What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
• Luke 14:26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
• Luke 16:8The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.
• Luke 17:31On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind.
• Acts 27:18We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo.
• Galatians 2:15We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners”
• Galatians 5:2Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

Commentaries on Philippians 3:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7But what things were gain - The credit and respect which I had, as being zealously attached to the law, and to the traditions of the elders, I counted loss for Christ - I saw that this could stand me in no stead; that all my acts of righteousness were nothing on which I could depend for salvation; and that Christ crucified could alone profit me; for I found that it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sin.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7But what things were gain to me - The advantages of birth, of education, and of external conformity to the law. “I thought these to be gain - that is, to be of vast advantage in the matter of salvation. I valued myself on these things, and supposed that I was rich in all that pertained to moral character and to religion.” Perhaps, also, he refers to these things as laying the foundation of a hope of future advancement in honor and in wealth in this world…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8As a Christian, Paul now considered these things (3:5–6) worthless because of what Christ has done. A believer’s relationship with God is defined by knowing Christ and nothing else (compare 3:10; John 17:3). The only important thing is to gain Christ, thus receiving the gift of eternal salvation (see John 3:16; 1 John 5:11–13). In comparison, all other things are meaningless garbage (or rubbish).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. gain--rather as Greek, "gains"; including all possible advantages of outward status, which he had heretofore enjoyed. I counted--Greek, "I have counted for Christ's sake loss." He no longer uses the plural as in "gains"; for he counts them all but one great "loss" (Mt 16:26; Lu 9:25).Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 3:7

• Formalism
• Love
• Obedience
• Paradox
• Righteous
• Sacrifices
• Salvation
• Self-Denial
• Testimony
• Wisdom
• Works
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Belly
• Concision
• Count
• Earthly
• Gain
• God
• Mean
• Press

Commentaries on Philippians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings