Philippians 3 · Verse 7

Philippians 3:7

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Philippians 3:7, King James Version

Philippians 3:7 in other translations

BSBBut whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
WEBHowever, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ.
ASVHowbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.
YLTBut what things were to me gains, these I have counted, because of the Christ, loss;
DARBYbut what things were gain to me these I counted, on account of Christ, loss.
BBEBut those things which were profit to me, I gave up for Christ.
WebsterBut what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

What does Philippians 3:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. 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).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. But 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 honour and in wealth in this world. They commended him to the rulers of the nation; they opened before him a brilliant prospect of distinction; they made it certain that he could rise to posts of honour and of office, and could easily gratify all the aspirings of his ambition.

Those I counted loss. "I now regard them all as so much loss. They were really a disadvantage--a hindrance--an injury. I look upon them not as gain or an advantage, but as an obstacle to my salvation." He had relied on them. He had been led by these things to an improper estimate of his own character, and he had been thus hindered from embracing the true religion, lie says, therefore, that he now renounced all dependence on them; that he esteemed them not as contributing to his salvation, but, so far as any reliance should be placed on them, as in fact so much loss.

For Christ. Gr., "On account of Christ." That is, so far as Christ and his religion were concerned, they were to be regarded as worthless. In order to obtain salvation by him, it was necessary to renounce all dependence on these things.

(a) "counted loss" Mt 13:44

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 But 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philippians 3:1-11

Sincere Christians rejoice in Christ Jesus. The prophet calls the false prophets dumb dogs, Is 56:10; to which the apostle seems to refer. Dogs, for their malice against faithful professors of the gospel of Christ, barking at them and biting them. They urged human works in opposition to the faith of Christ; but Paul calls them evil-workers. He calls them the concision; as they rent the church of Christ, and cut it…

Read the full comment on Philippians 3:1-11 →

Philippians 3:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽ButG235
ἅτιναhatinawhatever thingsG3748
ἦνēnwereG1510
μοιmoito meG3165
κέρδη,kerdēgain,G2771
ταῦταtautatheseG3778
ἥγημαιhēgēmaiI have esteemedG2233
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τὸνton<the>G3588
ΧριστὸνChristonChristG5547
ζημίαν·zēmianloss;G2209

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Philippians 3:7

  • Luke 14:33

    So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

  • Matthew 16:26

    For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

  • Matthew 13:44-46

    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

  • Luke 14:26

    If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

  • Proverbs 13:8

    The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

  • Philippians 3:8-10

    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, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

  • Luke 17:31-33

    In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

  • Genesis 19:17

    And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

  • Galatians 5:2-5

    Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

  • Job 2:4

    And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

  • Galatians 2:15-16

    We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

  • Genesis 19:26

    But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4-6,8-10; Ge 19:17,26; Job 2:4; Pr 13:8; 23:23; Mt 13:44-46; 16:26
Lu 14:26,33; 16:8; 17:31-33; Ac 27:18,19,38; Ga 2:15,16; 5:2-5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Philippians 3:6

    Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

  • Philippians 3:7

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

  • Philippians 3:8

    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,

Read all of Philippians 3

Philippians 3:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pero las cosas que para mí eran ganancias, helas reputado pérdidas por amor de Cristo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais les choses qui pour moi étaient un gain, je les ai regardées, à cause du Christ, comme une perte.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber was irgend mir Gewinn war, habe ich um Christi willen für Verlust geachtet;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sed quæ mihi fuerunt lucra, hæc arbitratus sum propter Christum detrimenta.