Philippians 3:7–8
Paul counts as loss everything he had, to know the Messiah
Study it word by word7But whatever things were gains to me, these I have considered loss because of the Messiah.
8More than that, I also consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of the knowledge of the Messiah Jesus my Lord, because of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and I consider them garbage, so that I may gain the Messiah
In its context
5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
6as to zeal, persecuting the assembly; as to the righteousness that is in the law, having become blameless.
…
9and be found in him, not having my own righteousness that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in the Messiah, the righteousness from God based on faith,
10to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
Its words in the original
- ἦνēn· be
Be, exist.
- κέρδηkerdē· gain
Gain.
- ἥγημαιhēgēmai· lead, consider
Lead, go in front, rule; "leader", "ruler". Also think, consider, regard.
- ΧριστὸνChriston· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- ζημίανzēmian· loss
Loss, damage to one's goods.
- μενοῦνγεmenounge· rather
"Rather", "on the contrary", "indeed".
- ὑπερέχονhyperechon· be superior
Be superior, be above others, surpass; "the surpassing", what surpasses.
- γνώσεωςgnōseōs· knowledge
Knowledge.
- ἸησοῦIēsou· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- κυρίουkyriou· Lord, lord
Lord, master, owner. Said of God, the Lord; in Old Testament quotations it stands for the name YHWH.
- ἐζημιώθηνezēmiōthēn· lose, suffer loss
Lose, suffer loss.
- σκύβαλαskybala· garbage, dung
Garbage, refuse that is thrown away; also dung.
- κερδήσωkerdēsō· gain
Gain, win.