But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Parallel translations
- WEB However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ.
- BSB But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
- NKJV But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
- NASB But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ.
- NLT I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Whatever gains Paul once prized he now counts as loss for Christ's sake. Knowing Christ outweighs every former advantage.
Overview
Paul reverses his ledger: the credentials he just listed are reclassified from assets to losses. The turning point is Christ, whose surpassing worth changes everything. This is the great exchange at the heart of the gospel, trading self-righteousness for Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Luke 14:33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
- Matt 16:26For 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?
- Matt 13:44–46Again, 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.
- Luke 14:26If 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.
- Prov 13:8The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
- Phil 3:8–10Yea 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,
- Luke 17:31–33In 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.
- Gen 19:17And 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.
- Gal 2:15–16We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
- Job 2:4And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
- Gal 5:2–5Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
- Luke 16:8And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
- Gen 19:26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
- Phil 3:4–6Though 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:
- Prov 23:23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
- Acts 27:38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
- Acts 27:18–19And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The one who, being in the form of God, emptied himself to the point of death on a cross and was exalted to the name above every name — the joy and prize of the believer.
How Philippians 3:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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