“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord — the intensification: not just his Jewish credentials but 'everything' (ta panta) is loss. 'Surpassing worth' (hypecho tēs gnoseos, exceeding-ness of the knowledge) emphasizes transcendent value. 'Knowing Christ Jesus' (gnosis Christou Iēsou) is not intellectual knowledge but relational intimacy. 'My Lord' (mou kyriē) shows personal possession: Christ is his Lord, not the law. This is experiential theology: knowing Christ surpasses all achievement.
Church Fathers on Philippians 3:9
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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