Philippians 3:7-16 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:9

And be found in him ,.... This is another end the apostle had in view, in counting all things loss and dung, and suffering the loss of all for Christ. Calvin, different from other interpreters, reads the words actively, "and may find in him"; and thinks the sense is, that the apostle renounced all things for Christ, that he might recover all in him: and true it is, that for the loss of carnal privileges, he found in Christ spiritual blessings; and for the loss of his own righteousness,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:10

That I may know him ,.... The Ethiopic version reads "by faith"; and to the same sense the Syriac. The apostle did know Christ, and that years ago; he knew whom he had believed; he knew him for himself; he knew his personal interest in him; nor did he know any but him in the business of salvation: but his knowledge of Christ, though it was very great, it was, imperfect; he knew but in part, and therefore desired to know more of Christ, of the mystery and glories of his person, of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:11

If by any means I, might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not in a figurative sense, the resurrection from the death of sin to a life of grace, of which Christ is the efficient cause, for this the apostle had attained to; unless the consummation of that spiritual life, in perfect holiness, should be intended, than which nothing was more desirable by him; nor in a representative sense, for this also he enjoyed in Christ his head, being risen with him, and in him, when he rose from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:12

Not as though I had already attained ,.... Or "received"; he had received much grace out of the fulness of it in Christ; he had received the gift of righteousness, the forgiveness of his sins, and the adoption of children; he had attained to a lively hope of the incorruptible inheritance, and had received a right unto it, and had a meetness for it; but as yet he had not received the thing itself, nor was he come to the end of his race, and so had not received the crown of righteousness laid... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended ,.... That for which he was apprehended of Christ: he had not attained to perfect knowledge, was not come to the mark, had not received the prize, or laid hold on eternal life; though he had received so much grace, and such gifts, as had qualified him for an apostle; and he had been so many years in that office, and had so great a knowledge in the mystery of the Gospel, and had laboured in it more abundantly than others, and with great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark ,.... The allusion is to the white line, or mark, which the runners in the Olympic games made up to, and to which he that came first received the prize; and by which the apostle intends the Lord Jesus Christ, who is σκοπος , "the scope", or "mark", of all the thoughts, purposes, and counsels of God, to which they all aim, and in which they all centre; and of the covenant of grace of which he is the sum and substance, the Mediator, surety, and messenger, in whom are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:15

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect ,.... Not absolutely, but comparatively, with respect to other believers, in a lower class of knowledge and experience; and not with respect to degrees, but parts; and regards such who were not children, but of riper age in divine things, unless the words are spoken ironically: be thus minded ; as the apostle was, to count what were gain to him, loss for Christ; to reckon all things but loss and dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:16

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained ,.... Whatever degree of knowledge of Christ, and the truths of his Gospel, is attained to, let it be retained, and not departed from: let us walk by the same rule ; either the doctrine of justification by Christ's righteousness in particular, which is a rule of judgment concerning other things; for so far as they agree or disagree with this, they are to be received or rejected; or the Scriptures of truth, which are the rule of faith and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:7

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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:8

I count all things but loss - Not only my Jewish privileges, but all others of every kind; with every thing that men count valuable or gainful, or on which they usually depend for salvation. The excellency of the knowledge of Christ - That superior light, information, and blessedness which come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ; justification through his blood, sanctification by his Spirit, and eternal glory through his merits and intercession. These are the blessings held out to us by... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:8

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