Matthew Poole and continuators on Philippians 3:8

8 Yea doubtless , and I account all things but loss , for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of all things , and do count them but dung , that I may win Christ .

He very emphatically in the Greek expresseth his stronger resolution upon further deliberation.

Whatever they be in themselves they are but loss or damage, of no worth to me, as to any dependance on them for acceptance with God.

Compar'd with the surpassing worth, and excellency in the fiducial, experimental (as is plain from what follows) knowledge of Jesus Christ in his person, Offices, and benefits wherein an eye of faith can discern transcendent mysteries, Is. 53.11. Ioh. 17.3. 1 Ioh. 5.20. 1 Tim. 3.16. 1 Pet. 1.12. to be ador'd by the sincere servants of so excellent a Lord, Mark 5.30, 33. to have an interest in whom, and to enjoy whom every thing besides is despicable.

For whom (he adds) he did not onely account them loss (as v. 7.) in his judgment and readiness to loose them, but he actually sustained the loss of them, Act. 20.23. 1 Cor. 4.13. 2 Cor. 11.23, &c. as to any plea for his acceptance, he suffered them all to go in this case, which he could not do till God of his rich and insuperable grace, wrought this resolution in him, by his holy Spirit, then he willingly did it.

Yea and upon a right stating of the accounts he reckon'd he was no loo[illegible: 1 letter]er by the exchange, in that he did esteem them in a just balance comparing spiritual things with spiritual, 1 Cor. 2.13. in point of trust, those excellent things, with an excellent Christ▪ to be no better than dung (as we with the Syriac and others translate the word) or Dogs-meat, refuse cast to the Dogs, with others (and might agree with the gust of those, v. 2. whom he calls Dogs, Mat. 15.26. Mark 7.28.) Those much conversant in Greek Authours do criticize largely upon the word, which is acknowledg'd on all hands to import things if not loathsome, yet vile, and contemptible, as Chaff, or &c. and so not absolutely but in their respect, did Paul account all things in comparison of Christ, even our good works proceeding from an heart sanctified but in part; he doth not mean of the substance, but quality of the trust or merit placed in them, not in themselves, but in regard of confidence in them, as to pardon and acceptance with God: not in point of sanctification, but justification, the Apostle is here speaking to. So to rely upon them would not onely comparatively, but positively be greatest loss, as keeping from Christ, who is the greatest gain; for which the loss of all beside was to be sustained.

That he might gain him, and be assured of an interest in him, whom he had above describ'd in his state of humiliation and exaltation, and enjoy Communion with him, Mat. 11.28. Luk. 14.26, 33. 2 Cor. 4.6. 1 Ioh. 5.12. of whom he would receive more, and for whom he would do more, aiming at the making of Christ himself his own, by some kind of propriety, 1 Cor. 1.30.

As he had reckon'd and rated when he was first wrought upon to entertain Christ, so at present he did not alter his judgment, [illegible: 1 letter]n the valuation of any thing he had rejected: yea he speaks universally what he did but indefinitely using the present tense with a discretive particle: he disesteem'd, not onely his Jewish privileges and exercises before, but his Christian after conversion, as of any worth to commend him to God, or as any matter to be rested on for his justification before God, shewing he did not ascribe his being accepted to eternal Life, unto his own works after he was renew'd, and now had so many years served God in his Apostolical ministry, performed such excellent works, planted so many Churches, gain'd so many Souls to [illegible: 1 word], pass'd through perils for the name of Christ. He remarka[illegible: 2 letters]y puts in all not onely which he had before recited, but to all works as such whatsoever, yea and to all whatsoever could be thought on besides Christ.

Marginal references: Ier. 9 23, 24. Col. 2.2.