8. Yea doubtless--The oldest manuscripts omit "doubtless" (Greek, "ge"): translate, "nay more." Not only "have I counted" those
things just mentioned "loss for Christ's sake, but, moreover, I even
DO count
ALL things but loss," &c.
for the excellency--Greek, "On account of the surpassing excellency
(the supereminence above them all) of the knowledge of Christ Jesus."
my Lord--believing and loving appropriation of Him
(Ps 63:1;
Joh 20:28).
for whom--"on account of whom."
I have suffered the loss--not merely I "counted" them "loss," but
have actually lost them.
all things--The Greek has the article, referring to the preceding
"all things"; "I have suffered the loss of them all."
dung--Greek, "refuse (such as excrements, dregs, dross)
cast to the dogs," as the derivation expresses. A "loss" is of
something having value; but "refuse" is thrown away as not worthy of
being any more touched or looked at.
win--Translate, to accord with the translation,
Php 3:7,
"gain Christ." A man cannot make other things his "gain" or
chief confidence, and at the same time "gain Christ." He who loses all
things, and even himself, on account of Christ, gains Christ: Christ is
His, and He is Christ's
(So 2:16; 6:3;
Lu 9:23, 24;
1Co 3:23).
JFB.
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