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Read the Bible

King James Version

Philippians 3:7

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Formalism;   Love;   Obedience;   Paradox;   Righteous;   Sacrifices;   Salvation;   Self-Denial;   Testimony;   Wisdom;   Works;   Zeal, Religious;   Scofield Reference Index - Law of Moses;   Thompson Chain Reference - Consecration;   Entire Consecration;   Paul;   Surrendered Life, Characteristics of;   The Topic Concordance - Suffering;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Righteousness;   Righteousness Imputed;   Self-Righteousness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - World;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Confidence;   Faith;   Galatians, Theology of;   Humility;   Philippians, Theology of;   Spirituality;   Works of the Law;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Flesh;   Philippians, the Epistle to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Philippians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Paul the Apostle;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Boyhood ;   Care, Careful;   Cheerfulness ;   Gain;   Mediation Mediator;   Philippians Epistle to the;   Self- Denial;   Self-Denial;   Sifting;   Trade and Commerce;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Loss;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Count;   Loss;   Pauline Theology;   Philippi;   Philippians, the Epistle to;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 20;   Every Day Light - Devotion for October 27;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
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.
Simplified Cowboy Version
What I once thought was my crowning achievement, I now think of as crap. What I can do is worthless compared to what Jesus did.
Bible in Basic English
But those things which were profit to me, I gave up for Christ.
Darby Translation
but what things were gain to me these I counted, on account of Christ, loss.
Christian Standard Bible®
But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.
World English Bible
However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But whatsoever things were gain to me, those I have accounted loss for Christ.
Weymouth's New Testament
Yet all that was gain to me--for Christ's sake I have reckoned it loss.
King James Version (1611)
But what things were gaine to me, those I counted losse for Christ.
Literal Translation
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss because of Christ.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the thinges that were vauntage vnto me, haue I counted losse for Christes sake.
Mace New Testament (1729)
these advantages I renounce for Christ,
THE MESSAGE
The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness.
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].
American Standard Version
Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.
Revised Standard Version
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But the thynges that were vauntage vnto me I counted losse for Christes sake.
Update Bible Version
Nevertheless what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Webster's Bible Translation
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Young's Literal Translation
But what things were to me gains, these I have counted, because of the Christ, loss;
New Century Version
Those things were important to me, but now I think they are worth nothing because of Christ.
New English Translation
But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.
Berean Standard Bible
But whatever was an asset to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
Contemporary English Version
But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless.
Complete Jewish Bible
But the things that used to be advantages for me, I have, because of the Messiah, come to consider a disadvantage.
English Standard Version
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But the thinges that were vantage vnto me, the same I counted losse for Christes sake.
George Lamsa Translation
But these things which once were a gain to me, I counted a loss for the sake of Christ.
Hebrew Names Version
However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Messiah.
International Standard Version
But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of Christ.Matthew 13:44;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But these things which were my gain, I have reckoned loss for the Meshiha;
Murdock Translation
But these things, which had been my excellence, I have accounted a detriment, because of the Messiah.
New King James Version
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
New Living Translation
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
New Life Bible
But I gave up those things that were so important to me for Christ.
English Revised Version
Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.
New Revised Standard
Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, whatever things, unto me, were gain, the same, have I accounted, for the Christ's sake, loss;
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ.
Lexham English Bible
But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have considered loss because of Christ.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the thynges that were vauntage vnto me, those I counted losse for Christes sake.
Easy-to-Read Version
At one time all these things were important to me. But because of Christ, I decided that they are worth nothing.
New American Standard Bible
But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ.
Good News Translation
But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ's sake.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But whiche thingis weren to me wynnyngis, Y haue demed these apeyryngis for Crist.

Contextual Overview

4 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: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 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,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Philippians 3:4-6, Philippians 3:8-10, Genesis 19:17, Genesis 19:26, Job 2:4, Proverbs 13:8, Proverbs 23:23, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 16:26, Luke 14:26, Luke 14:33, Luke 16:8, Luke 17:31-33, Acts 27:18, Acts 27:19, Acts 27:38, Galatians 2:15, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 5:2-5

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 7:15 - had cast away Psalms 40:16 - love Psalms 45:16 - Instead Psalms 145:7 - sing Ecclesiastes 3:6 - and a time to cast Song of Solomon 8:1 - I would Isaiah 2:20 - cast Jeremiah 41:8 - Slay Jonah 1:5 - and cast Zechariah 3:4 - Take Matthew 10:37 - that loveth father Matthew 22:42 - What Mark 8:34 - Whosoever Mark 8:36 - what Mark 9:47 - thine Mark 10:28 - Lo Mark 10:50 - General Mark 13:15 - General Luke 5:11 - they forsook Luke 9:29 - General Luke 15:7 - which Luke 18:28 - General John 6:54 - eateth John 14:15 - General John 16:10 - righteousness Acts 27:32 - General Romans 1:1 - a servant 2 Corinthians 3:10 - had 2 Corinthians 5:16 - know we no 2 Corinthians 5:17 - old Galatians 4:12 - be Galatians 6:14 - God Philippians 3:3 - rejoice Colossians 3:11 - but 1 Peter 2:7 - you

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Genesis 3:5
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Genesis 3:10
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Genesis 3:11
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Deuteronomy 28:34
So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
2 Kings 6:20
And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord , open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
Isaiah 28:20
For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
Isaiah 59:6
Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
Luke 16:23
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But what things were gain to me,.... As circumcision, and the observance of the ceremonial law, which he thought were necessary to salvation; and his natural and lineal descent from Abraham, which he supposed entitled him to the favour of God, and eternal life, as well as to outward privileges; and his being of that strict sect of religion, a Pharisee, which he doubted not, being brought up and continued in, would secure to him everlasting happiness; and his zeal in persecuting the church of Christ, in which he thought he did God good service, and merited heaven for himself; and his legal righteousness, which he fancied was perfect, and so justified him in the sight of God, and rendered him acceptable to him: for the apostle's meaning is, not only that these things were judged by him, while in an unconverted state, good in themselves, and in some respects useful, but that they were really gainful, and meritorious of happiness in another world. But being converted, he saw all those things in a different light, and had a different opinion of them:

those I counted loss for Christ; circumcision he saw was now abolished, and was nothing, and that the circumcision of the heart was the main thing; and that the other was so far from being useful and necessary to salvation, that it was hurtful, was a yoke of bondage, bound men over to keep the whole law, and made Christ of none effect to them; and the same opinion he had of the whole ceremonial law: as for natural descent, which he once valued and trusted in, he now rejected it, well knowing it signified not whether a man was a Greek, or a Jew, a Barbarian, or Scythian, provided he was but a believer in Christ, Colossians 3:11; and as for any outward form or sect of religion, he knew there was no salvation in it, nor in any other name but that of Christ, Acts 4:12; and he was so far from thinking, that on account of his zeal in persecuting the church he was deserving of heaven, that for that reason he was not worthy to be called an apostle of Christ; and as for his legal righteousness, he now saw it to be as filthy rags, Isaiah 64:6; that many things in it were really evil in themselves, such as his observance of the traditions of the elders, whereby the commands of God were transgressed, and his mad zeal in persecuting the followers of Christ; and other things, which had the appearance of good works, were not truly so, did not spring from love, were not done in faith, and with a view to the glory of God; and that the best of them were very imperfect, and exceeding blamable; yea, that if they had been perfect, they could not have been meritorious of eternal life, as he once thought them to be; he saw now they were of no use in justification and salvation; nay, that they were hurtful and pernicious, being trusted to, as keeping persons off from Christ, and his righteousness: wherefore, he gladly suffered the loss of all his legal righteousness, and renounced and disclaimed it, and all pretensions to justification and salvation by it, for the sake of Christ; of life and salvation by him, and in comparison of him; of the knowledge of him, and of his justifying righteousness, as the following verses show. Hence, what before he pleased himself much with, and promised himself much from, he could not now reflect upon with any pleasure and satisfaction of mind; which is the sense of this phrase with Jewish writers x: so it is observed of a drunken man, when he comes to himself; and it is told him what he did when in liquor, he grieves at it, ויחשב הכל הפסד ולא ריוח, "and counts all loss and not gain"; i.e. can take no pleasure in a reflection on it.

x Sepher Cosri, p. 3, sect. 16. fol. 152. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 honor 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 honor 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. He 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 - Greek, “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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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.


 
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