“I’ve Gotten Back More Than I’ve Given Up”
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Story of Michelangelo…
This is were we find Paul at point of evaluation and re-evaluation.
Exploring Ephesians & Philippians: An Expository Commentary ((a) He Wrote off All His Human Religion (3:7))
The word translated “gain” in Philippians 3:7 is kerdos, the same word used in 1:21—“to die is gain.” The word translated “loss” in 3:7–8 is zēmia. The only other place zēmia occurs in Scripture is in Luke’s record of Paul’s shipwreck. When the captain and the centurion were debating about whether they should set sail from the Fair Havens anchorage, Paul warned, “Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage [zēmia]” (Acts 27:10). When the storm was driving the ship headlong to disaster, Paul said, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained [kerdainō, akin to kerdos] this harm and loss [zēmia]” (Acts 27:21)—an ironic statement if there ever was one.
Paul used the same irony to describe his gains and losses as a religious man. All he had gained was loss. What he had considered assets turned out to be liabilities. Kerdos is actually plural in Philippians 3:7 and zēmia is in the singular, indicating that Paul’s one big debit consumed all his fancied credits. Since his one liability consumed his assets, he would have been left spiritually bankrupt if he had not gained Christ. Having Him changed the picture. Gladly Paul wrote off all his human religion for Christ.