Philippians 3:8

Yea doubtless. Literally, “Nay, indeed, therefore.” Paul can hardly find words sufficiently emphatic to express the intensity of his convictions. Verse 8 is an expansion of v. 7.

Count. From the same Greek word used in v. 7, but in the present tense to show that Paul is continuing to reckon his previous “gains” as “loss.”

All things. In v. 7 Paul says that he counted the things previously mentioned as loss. In this verse he goes further and declares that all things are counted loss. He is ready to renounce not only the things he had specified but everything that could be imagined. If all the wealth and honor conceivable were his, he would cheerfully repudiate them that he might know Christ.

For. Rather, “for the sake of,” “by reason of,” “because of,” that is, all else appeared insignificant because of the surpassing value of personally knowing Christ.

Excellency. Literally, “surpassingness.” Paul realized that a personal knowledge of Christ surpassed in value all other attainments (see on John 17:3).

My Lord. There is a warmth of affection in the expression “Christ Jesus my Lord.” It shows something of the close personal communion between the apostle and the Saviour. Other titles given to Jesus in this epistle occur with the following frequency: Christ (18 times); Jesus Christ (9); Christ Jesus (8); Lord Jesus Christ (3); Lord Jesus (1); Jesus (1); Saviour (1); besides a number of references to “Lord.”

Suffered the loss. Gr. zemiod, “to do damage to,” “to fine,” here used in the sense of “to forfeit,” “to give up.” The Greek tense points to the past, which would be to the time of Paul’s conversion, when, by following Christ, he lost all his inherited advantages.

Do count. That is, I am continuing to count, although the loss occurred in the past.

Dung. Gr. skubala, “refuse.” The word is used both of the waste products of the bodies of human beings and animals, and of the food thrown away from the table. The latter sense is especially appropriate here. The Judaizers thought of themselves as banqueters seated at the Father’s table. They pictured the Gentile Christians as dogs greedily snatching up the waste food which fell from the table. But here Paul has reversed the image. The true Christians are enjoying the banquet, and Judaizers are the dogs (v. 2), swallowing the privileges of Hebrew birth and upbringing, which Paul has voluntarily relinquished.

Win. Gr. kerdaind, “to gain,” related to the noun kerdos, “gain,” which occurs in the plural form in v. 7. Paul ardently longed to possess Christ for himself, that Christ in turn might completely possess him. The intensity of his desire is reflected in his threefold repetition of the word “loss” in vs. 7, 8. His winning of Christ represents the greatest “gain.”