Philippians 3:7,8– How gain became loss

But things which were gain to me, these I have deemed a forfeit because of Christ. But to be sure, I am also deeming all to be a forfeit because of the superiority of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, because of Whom I forfeited all and am deeming it to be refuse, that I should be gaining Christ…

In the foregoing, Paul had mentioned seven undeniable gains on his religious resume. None of the Judaizers who approached the Philippians could even remotely measure up to Paul. But here’s the thing: every one of these qualities that Paul once considered gain, he now counts as loss. He does not say that he now regards them as worthless or that they no longer appeal to his heart. No, since he came to know the Christ, he has regarded it as a forfeit .

In verse 8, Paul confirms this and expresses himself even more strongly. Not only has he deemed the previous gain a forfeit (past perfect tense) he still deems it a forfeit (present tense). So Paul’s resolute judgment was not just a passing fad. Ever since he came into contact with the living Christ from heaven, namely Jesus, on the road to Damascus, he counts all his previous achievements as worse than worthless. They are an obstacle because of the superior “knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Delen: