Philippians 3 · Verse 8

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,

Philippians 3:8, King James Version

Philippians 3:8 in other translations

BSB	More 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
WEB	Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ
ASV	Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,
YLT	yes, indeed, and I count all things to be loss, because of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, because of whom of the all things I suffered loss, and do count them to be refuse, that Christ I may gain, and be found in him,
DARBY	But surely I count also all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all, and count them to be filth, that I may gain Christ;
BBE	Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward,
Webster	Yes doubtless, and I count all things to be loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them to be dung, that I may win Christ,

What does Philippians 3:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. Yea doubtless--The oldest manuscripts omit "doubtless" (Greek, "ge"): translate, "nay more." Not only "have I counted" those things just mentioned "loss for Christ's sake, but, moreover, I even DO count ALL things but loss," &c. for the excellency--Greek, "On account of the surpassing excellency (the supereminence above them all) of the knowledge of Christ Jesus." my Lord--believing and loving appropriation of Him (Psa 63:1; Joh 20:28). for whom--"on account of whom." I have suffered the loss--not merely I "counted" them "loss," but have actually lost them. all things--The Greek has the article, referring to the preceding "all things"; "I have suffered the loss of them all." dung--Greek, "refuse (such as excrements, dregs, dross) cast to the dogs," as the derivation expresses. A "loss" is of something having value; but "refuse" is thrown away as not worthy of being any more touched or looked at. win--Translate, to accord with the translation, Php 3:7, "gain Christ." A man cannot make other things his "gain" or chief confidence, and at the same time "gain Christ." He who loses all things, and even himself, on account of Christ, gains Christ: Christ is His, and He is Christ's (So 2:16; 6:3; Lu 9:23, 24; 1Co 3:23).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss. Not only those things which he had just specified, and which he had himself possessed, he says he would be willing to renounce in order to obtain an interest in the Saviour, but everything which could be imagined. Were all the wealth and honour which could be conceived of his, we would be willing to renounce them in order that he might obtain the knowledge of the Redeemer. He would be a gainer who should sacrifice everything in order to win Christ. Paul had not only acted on this principle when he became a Christian, but had ever afterwards continued to be ready to give up everything in order that he might obtain an interest in the Saviour. He uses here the same word ζημιαν,--which he does in the Acts of the Apostles, Acts 27:21, when speaking of the loss which had been sustained by loosing from Crete, contrary to his advice, on the voyage to Rome. The idea here seems to be, "What I might obtain, or did possess, I regard as loss in comparison with the knowledge of Christ, even as seamen do the goods on which they set a high value, in comparison with their lives. Valuable as they may be, they are willing to throw them all overboard in order to save themselves." Burder, in Ros. Alt. u. neu. Morgenland, in loc.

For the excellency of the knowledge. A Hebrew expression to denote excellent knowledge. The idea is, that he held everything else to be worthless in comparison with that knowledge, and he was willing to sacrifice everything else in order to obtain it. On the value of this knowledge of the Saviour, Eph 3:19.

For whom I have suffered the loss of all things. Paul, when he became a Christian, gave up his brilliant prospects in regard to this life, and everything indeed on which his heart had been placed. He abandoned the hope of honour and distinction; he sacrificed every prospect of gain or ease; and he gave up his dearest friends, and separated himself from those whom he tenderly loved. He might have risen to the highest posts of honour in his native land, and the path which an ambitious young man desires was fully open before him. But all this had been cheerfully sacrificed in order that he might obtain an interest in the Saviour, and partake of the blessings of his religion, he has not, indeed, informed us of the exact extent of his loss in becoming a Christian. It is by no means improbable that he had been excommunicated by the Jews; and that he had been disowned by his own family.

And do count them but dung. The word here used--σκυβαλον--occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, dregs, refuse; what is thrown away as worthless; chaff, offal, or the refuse of a table or of slaughtered animals; and then filth of any kind. No language could express a more deep sense of the utter worthlessness of all that external advantages could confer in the matter of salvation. In the question, of justification before God, all reliance on birth, and blood, and external morality, and forms of religion, and prayers, and alms, is to be renounced, and, in comparison with the merits of the great Redeemer, to be esteemed as vile. Such were Paul's views; and we may remark, that if this was so in his case, it should be in ours. Such things can no more avail for our salvation than they could for his. We can no more be justified by them than he could. Nor will they do anything more in our case to commend us to God than they did in his.

(b) "for the excellency" Isa 53:11, Jer 9:23,24, Jn 17:3, 1Cor 2:2 (c) "have suffered" 2Cor 11:25-27 (*) "but dung" "refuse"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 8 I count all things but loss - Not only my Jewish privileges, but all others of every kind; with every thing that men count valuable or gainful, or on which they usually depend for salvation. The excellency of the knowledge of Christ - That superior light, information, and blessedness which come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ; justification through his blood, sanctification by his Spirit, and eternal glory through his merits and intercession. These are the blessings held out to us by the Gospel, of which, and the law, Jesus Christ is the sum and substance. I have suffered the loss of all things - Some translate δι' ον τα παντα εζημιωθην, for whom I have thrown away all things - I have made a voluntary choice of Christ, his cross, his poverty, and his reproach; and for these I have freely sacrificed all I had from the world, and all I could expect from it. And do count them but dung - The word σκυβαλα means the vilest dross or refuse of any thing; the worst excrement. The word shows how utterly insignificant and unavailing, in point of salvation, the apostle esteemed every thing but the Gospel of Jesus. With his best things he freely parted, judging them all loss while put in the place of Christ crucified; and Christ crucified he esteemed infinite gain, when compared with all the rest. Of the utter unavailableness of any thing but Christ to save the soul the Apostle Paul stands as an incontrovertible proof. Could the law have done any thing, the apostle must have known it. He tried, and found it vanity; he tried the Gospel system, and found it the power of God to his salvation. By losing all that the world calls excellent, he gained Christ, and endless salvation through him. Of the glorious influence of the Gospel he is an unimpeachable witness. See the concluding observations on the 9th chapter of the Acts, (Act 9:43 (note)) on the character of St. Paul.

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 3:8 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.

ἀλλὰallaButG235

μενοῦνγεmenoungeratherG3304

καὶkaialsoG2532

ἡγοῦμαιhēgoumaiI countG2233

πάνταpantaall thingsG3956

ζημίανzēmianlossG2209

εἶναιeinaito beG1511

διὰdiabecause ofG1223

τὸtowhichG3588

ὑπερέχονhuperechonis excellingG5242

τῆςtēstheG3588

γνώσεωςgnōseōsknowledgeG1108

ΧριστοῦChristouof ChristG5547

ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424

τοῦtoutheG3588

κυρίουkuriouLordG2962

μουmouof mineG3165

δι᾽di᾽because ofG1223

ὃνhonwhomG3739

τὰta<the>G3588

πάνταpantaall thingsG3956

ἐζημιώθηνezēmiōthēnI have lostG2210

καὶkaiandG2532

ἡγοῦμαιhēgoumaiesteem [them]G2233

σκύβαλαskubalarubbishG4657

ἵναinathatG2443

ΧριστὸνChristonChristG5547

κερδήσω,kerdēsōI may gainG2770

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

Cross references for Philippians 3:8

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 things I delight, saith the Lord.
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.
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.
Philippians 3:7
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Philippians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
2 Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Matthew 19:27-29
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Colossians 2:2-3
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
John 17:8
For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

doubtless.
Nu 14:30; Ps 126:6; Lu 11:20; 1Co 9:10; 1Jo 2:19
I count.
Ac 20:24; Ro 8:18
the excellency.
10; Isa 53:11; Jer 9:23,24; Mt 11:25-27; 16:16,17; Lu 10:21,22
Joh 14:7,20; 16:3; 17:3,8; 1Co 2:2; 2Co 4:4,6; Ga 1:16; Eph 1:17,18
Eph 3:8,9,18,19; Col 2:2,3; 1Pe 2:7; 2Pe 1:3; 3:18; 1Jo 5:20
my.
Lu 1:43; 20:42-44; Joh 20:13,28
for whom.
7; Mt 19:27-29; 1Co 4:9-13; 2Co 11:23-27; 2Ti 4:6
but dung.
1Ki 14:10; 2Ki 9:37; Job 20:7; Mal 2:3
win.
Mt 13:44-46; Heb 3:14; 1Jo 1:3

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

Context

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,
Philippians 3:9
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:

Read all of Philippians 3

Philippians 3:8 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y ciertamente, aun reputo todas las cosas pérdida por el eminente conocimiento de Cristo Jesús, mi Señor, por amor del cual lo he perdido todo, y téngolo por estiércol, para ganar á Cristo,
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et je regarde même aussi toutes choses comme étant une perte, à cause de l’excellence de la connaissance du christ Jésus, mon Seigneur, à cause duquel j’ai fait la perte de toutes et je les estime comme des ordures, afin que je gagne Christ,
German Elberfelder 1871	ja, wahrlich, ich achte auch alles für Verlust wegen der Vortrefflichkeit der Erkenntnis Christi Jesu, meines Herrn, um dessentwillen ich alles eingebüßt habe und es für Dreck achte, auf daß ich Christum gewinne
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Verumtamen existimo omnia detrimentum esse propter eminentem scientiam Jesu Christi Domini mei: propter quem omnia detrimentum feci, et arbitror ut stercora, ut Christum lucrifaciam,