“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,”
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ — the massive reversal (alla) turns from listing gains to evaluating them. Kerdē (gains, profits) now appear as apobolia (loss, refuse). 'For the sake of Christ' (heneken Christou) establishes Christ as the revaluation standard. Everything previously treasured is disvalued by comparison to Christ.
Church Fathers on Philippians 3:8
In our contests with heretics, we must make the attack with minds in vigor, that they may be able to give exact attention. I will therefore begin nay present discourse where the last ended. And what was that? Having enumerated every Jewish boast, both those from his birth, and those that were from choice, he added, “Howbeit, what things were gain to me, these have I counted to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I suffered the loss of…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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