The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:7
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ ; literally, but such things as used to be gains to me , those I have counted as loss for Christ ' s sake. He used to regard these outward privileges, one by one, as so many items of gain; now he has learned to regard them, all in the aggregate, as so much loss because of Christ. They were loss because confidence in outward things tends to keep the soul from Christ. τοῦ γὰρ ἡλίου φανέτος , says Chrysostom, ... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:4-11
The example of St. Paul. I. WHAT HE RENOUNCED . All confidence in the flesh. 1 . He enumerates the privileges of the Jew , and claims them as his own. He had the seal of circumcision, the inheritance of the covenant; he was brought up in the Hebrew learning; he belonged to the strictest sect; he was zealous; he had lived a blameless life. In outward grounds of confidence no man could surpass him. He had all the privileges that could issue from the Judaism of the time. 2 ... read more