Philippians 3:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:4-8

The cost and the value of personal Christianity. "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh," etc. Notice— I. THE COST WHICH THE APOSTLE PAID FOR HIS CHRISTIANITY . Metaphorically he sold a property that he at one time valued beyond, all price, and that his countrymen regarded as the wealthiest inheritance. Here he gives a summary of the distinguished privileges which belonged to him. 1 . He refers to his Church status. "Circumcised the eighth day."... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:7-8

All loss for Christ is gain. No one of the early Christians was favored with richer religious endowments or with higher rank than those enjoyed by St. Paul, and no one was called to make more heavy social and ecclesiastical sacrifices in entering the Church. Yet the apostle regarded his former wealth of privileges as so much loss because it was a hindrance to his receiving true wealth in Christ, and the winning of Christ as not simply a balance of profit, but as wholly a gain; so that,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:8

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss . He holds fast the truth which he once learned; he still counts all things as loss in comparison with the one thing needful. The particles used here (see Winer, sect. liii.) correct and strengthen the assertion of the last verse, both as to time, "I count," and as to extent, "all things," not only the privileges mentioned above . For the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord . The preposition may be rendered "for the sake of,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:8

The excellency of the knowledge of Christ. "I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." I. THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST . 1 . It implies a knowledge of the way of salt , afloat , the Word of God being our guide. ( Romans 10:17 .) Eternal life hinges upon it. "This is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" ( John 17:3 ). It is by this knowledge we are justified. "By his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:8-9

The knowledge of Christ the one thing needful. I. WHAT IT IS . To know him is to know God, and to know God is eternal life. It is not knowledge abo u t him, but knowledge of him, that we need. We must know him as we know a person. II. HOW WE MUST SEEK THIS . All things that hinder us from obtaining this knowledge must be surrendered. Even such things as we have hitherto made a boast of must go if they are preventing us from knowing him. Our reputation for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:8-11

The true ground of a sinner's hope. The apostle then sets forth, in very impressive terms, the familiar way of salvation: "That I may gain Christ, 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 of God by faith." Consider— I. CHRIST THE PRESENT GAIN AND THE PRESENT SHELTER OF THE SINNER . The subject is presented under two aspects. 1 . Christ the present Gain of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:8-11

The enthusiast. Paul now exhibits himself to us in the light of an enthusiast in whose eyes the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ is all and in all. He regrets that so many fruitless years were spent away from Christ, and now he shows us all he hopes from him. He has surrendered everything for the sake of his Lord and Master. He has put away the thought of what he might have been had he remained a Jewish partisan. There was nothing beyond the ambition of Saul the persecutor had he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:8-11

Phases of Christ. "I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Paul presents Christ in four aspects. I. As A PRIZE . "That I may win Christ." What is it to win Christ? It is something more than to become acquainted with his biography , something more than to understand the doctrines he taught or the theory of his life and mission. To gain him is to gain his moral spirit. His moral spirit is himself—that which marked him off... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:9

And be found in him; now, at the last day, always . In Christ ; a member, that is, of his body, a living branch of the true Vine. Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law ; rather, as R.V., not harding a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the Law. Not any righteousness of my own, such as that described in Philippians 3:6 , the righteousness which consists in and results from conformity to an external law. But perhaps the words are best rendered, as in... read more

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