Philippians 3:7
New International Version
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

New Living Translation
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

English Standard Version
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Berean Standard Bible
But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.

Berean Literal Bible
But whatever things were gain to me, these I have esteemed loss because of Christ.

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

New King James Version
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

New American Standard Bible
But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ.

NASB 1995
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

NASB 1977
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Legacy Standard Bible
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Amplified Bible
But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life].

Christian Standard Bible
But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

American Standard Version
Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

Contemporary English Version
But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless.

English Revised Version
Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
These things that I once considered valuable, I now consider worthless for Christ.

Good News Translation
But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ's sake.

International Standard Version
But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of the Messiah.

Majority Standard Bible
But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.

NET Bible
But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.

New Heart English Bible
However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

Webster's Bible Translation
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Weymouth New Testament
Yet all that was gain to me--for Christ's sake I have reckoned it loss.

World English Bible
However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
But what things were gains to me, these I have counted loss, because of the Christ;

Berean Literal Bible
But whatever things were gain to me, these I have esteemed loss because of Christ.

Young's Literal Translation
But what things were to me gains, these I have counted, because of the Christ, loss;

Smith's Literal Translation
But what things were gain to me, these I have thought loss for Christ.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the things which had been to my gain, the same have I considered a loss, for the sake of Christ.

New American Bible
[But] whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ.

New Revised Standard Version
Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But these things which once were a gain to me, I counted a loss for the sake of Christ.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But these things that were advantages to me, I have accounted losses for the sake of The Messiah.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But the things which were gain to me, these I counted loss for Christ.

Godbey New Testament
Those things which were gained to me, these I counted loss for the sake of Christ.

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

Mace New Testament
these advantages I renounce for Christ,

Weymouth New Testament
Yet all that was gain to me--for Christ's sake I have reckoned it loss.

Worrell New Testament
But what things were gain to me, these I accounted loss for Christ.

Worsley New Testament
which were once gain to me, I counted loss for Christ.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Knowing Christ Above All Else
6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless. 7But 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…

Cross References
Matthew 13:44-46
The 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. / Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. / When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.

Luke 14:33
In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.

Matthew 16:26
What 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?

Mark 8:36-37
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? / Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 9:25
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Galatians 6:14
But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17
So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. / Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.

Hebrews 11:24-26
By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. / He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. / He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Colossians 3:2-3
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. / For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. / For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. / So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Romans 3:8
Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Isaiah 55:2-3
Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. / Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Philippians 3:4-6,8-10
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: …

Genesis 19:17,26
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…

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.

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Philippians 3
1. He warns them to beware of the false teachers;
4. showing that himself has greater cause than they to trust in the righteousness of the law;
7. which he counts as loss, to gain Christ and his righteousness;
12. acknowledging his own imperfection and pressing on toward the goal;
15. He exhorts them to be thus minded;
17. and to imitate him,
18. and to decline carnal ways.














But whatever was gain to me
In this phrase, Paul reflects on his past achievements and status, which he once considered valuable. As a Pharisee, Paul had significant religious, social, and educational accomplishments (Philippians 3:5-6). His background included being a Hebrew of Hebrews and a zealous follower of the law. This mirrors the cultural context of first-century Judaism, where lineage, adherence to the law, and religious zeal were highly esteemed. Paul’s use of "gain" suggests a ledger or accounting metaphor, indicating things he once considered assets.

I count as loss
Paul uses the term "loss" to indicate a complete reevaluation of his values. This is a radical shift from his previous life, where he now views his former gains as liabilities. The Greek word for "count" implies a deliberate and thoughtful decision. This reflects a transformation in Paul's understanding of what is truly valuable, aligning with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 16:26 about the worthlessness of gaining the world but losing one's soul. The concept of loss here is not just a passive acceptance but an active reassessment of priorities.

for the sake of Christ
This phrase highlights the reason for Paul's reevaluation: his relationship with Christ. The phrase "for the sake of" indicates a purpose or motivation. Paul’s encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) was a pivotal moment that redefined his life’s purpose. This reflects the centrality of Christ in Paul's theology, where knowing Christ surpasses all other achievements. It also connects to the broader biblical theme of sacrifice and surrender, as seen in Jesus' call to take up one's cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Paul’s transformation is a type of the believer’s journey from self-reliance to Christ-dependence.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Philippians, Paul was a former Pharisee who experienced a dramatic conversion to Christianity. His life and teachings are central to understanding the New Testament.

2. Philippi
A city in Macedonia where Paul established a church. The letter to the Philippians was written to encourage and instruct the believers there.

3. Christ Jesus
The central figure of Christianity, whose life, death, and resurrection are the foundation of the Christian faith. Paul emphasizes the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Teaching Points
The True Value of Christ
Paul’s statement challenges us to evaluate what we consider valuable in our lives. Are we placing Christ above all else, including our achievements and possessions?

Redefining Success
In a world that often measures success by wealth, status, or accomplishments, Paul’s perspective invites us to redefine success as knowing and serving Christ.

Sacrificial Living
Embracing the mindset of counting all things as loss for Christ may require sacrifices. Are we willing to let go of things that hinder our relationship with Him?

Eternal Perspective
Paul’s words encourage us to focus on eternal rewards rather than temporary gains. How can we cultivate an eternal perspective in our daily lives?

Identity in Christ
Our identity should be rooted in Christ rather than in worldly achievements. How does this truth impact our self-worth and purpose?(7) I counted loss . . .--Not merely worthless, but worse than worthless; because preventing the sense of spiritual need and helplessness which should bring to Christ, and so, while "gaining all the world," tending to the "loss of his own soul." St. Paul first applies this declaration to the Jewish privilege and dignity of which he had spoken. Then, not content with this, he extends it to "all things" which were his to sacrifice for Christ.

Verse 7. - But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ; literally, but such things as used to be gains to me, those I have counted as loss for Christ's sake. He used to regard these outward privileges, one by one, as so many items of gain; now he has learned to regard them, all in the aggregate, as so much loss because of Christ. They were loss because confidence in outward things tends to keep the soul from Christ. Τοῦ γὰρ ἡλίου φανέτος, says Chrysostom, προσκαθῆσθαι τῷ λύχνῳ ζημία.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
Ἀλλὰ (Alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

whatever
ἅτινα (hatina)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

was
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

an asset
κέρδη (kerdē)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2771: Gain, advantage, profit. Of uncertain affinity; gain.

to me
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

I count as
ἥγημαι (hēgēmai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2233: (a) To lead, (b) To think, be of opinion, suppose, consider.

loss
ζημίαν (zēmian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2209: Damage, loss, detriment. Probably akin to the base of damazo; detriment.

for the sake of
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

Christ.
Χριστὸν (Christon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.


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NT Letters: Philippians 3:7 However what things were gain to me (Philipp. Phil. Php.)
Philippians 3:6
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