ἀλλὰ μενοῦνγε καὶ ἡγοῦμαι πάντα ζημίαν εἶναι διὰ τὸ ὑπερέχον τῆς γνώσεως Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ κυρίου μου, δι’ ὃν τὰ πάντα ἐζημιώθην, καὶ ἡγοῦμαι σκύβαλα εἶναι ἵνα Χριστὸν κερδήσω (Philippians 3:8)
Counting Loss to Gain Christ
In Philippians 3:8, Paul declares with emotional intensity and grammatical elegance that everything once considered valuable is now worthless trash — compared to knowing Christ. The Greek sentence is a flowing, layered statement of values transformed by the surpassing knowledge of Jesus.
We are invited into Paul’s spiritual economics — not through abstract prose, but through precise verbal forms, purpose clauses, and vivid idioms. The verse presents a rich study in present infinitives, perfect tense, and the repetition of ἡγοῦμαι (“I consider”), anchoring the text in deliberate, personal valuation.
The Force of μενοῦνγε and Emphatic Conjunctions
Paul begins with ἀλλὰ μενοῦνγε καὶ ἡγοῦμαι, a rare and emphatic string of conjunctions. Let’s unpack it:
- ἀλλά – “but,” marking contrast
- μενοῦνγε – a strongly affirmative particle: “nay rather indeed” or “even more”
- καί – “also” or “indeed”
Together, the phrase translates: “But indeed, I also consider…” — intensifying what comes next and showing Paul’s unwavering resolve to reframe all value around Christ.
Present Infinitive εἶναι: To Be Worthless
We find the same syntactic construction twice:
- ἡγοῦμαι πάντα ζημίαν εἶναι
- ἡγοῦμαι σκύβαλα εἶναι
These constructions follow the verb ἡγοῦμαι (“I consider”) and include a double accusative with the infinitive εἶναι (“to be”).
1. Double Accusative Construction
| Component | Greek | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Subject of Infinitive | πάντα / σκύβαλα | everything / rubbish |
| Predicate Accusative | ζημίαν / σκύβαλα | loss / dung, refuse |
| Infinitive | εἶναι | to be |
This structure, common in philosophical and evaluative discourse, conveys deliberate personal judgment. Paul is not passively describing things as loss — he is actively declaring them to be so, in light of Christ.
Cognate Verb: ἐζημιώθην
A beautiful example of wordplay appears in:
δι’ ὃν τὰ πάντα ἐζημιώθην
“For whose sake I suffered the loss of all things.”
- ἐζημιώθην – Aorist Passive Indicative, 1st person singular of ζημιόω
This verb shares the same root as ζημίαν (“loss”), forming a cognate construction. The grammar reinforces the theme:
“I consider all things to be loss, because I have indeed suffered loss.”
Purpose Clause: ἵνα Χριστὸν κερδήσω
At the climax, Paul provides the purpose behind this entire valuation:
ἵνα Χριστὸν κερδήσω – “in order that I may gain Christ”
- ἵνα – introduces a purpose clause
- κερδήσω – Aorist Active Subjunctive, 1st person singular of κερδαίνω (“to gain”)
This purpose clause binds the whole sentence into a focused declaration: Paul’s radical re-evaluation of everything was not asceticism, but a passionate pursuit — to gain Christ.
Vocabulary Focus: σκύβαλα
The noun σκύβαλα is rare and striking. It refers to:
- Refuse, filth, excrement, or scraps thrown to dogs
This powerful word draws a graphic comparison: even the most prized achievements — whether moral, religious, or cultural — are worthless waste compared to knowing Christ.
From Grammar to Glory
Through masterful grammar, Paul expresses profound theology:
- Infinitives frame his re-evaluation of worth.
- Aorist passive reminds us that loss was not theoretical — he experienced it.
- Subjunctive purpose clause focuses the believer’s aim — gaining Christ.
The structure builds intensity, climaxing in the deepest aspiration of the believer: not riches, not reputation, but to gain Christ — the surpassing treasure.
What Do We Count as Gain?
In Philippians 3:8, Paul’s verbs do not merely describe his past — they chart a course for all believers. The grammatical structures pulse with spiritual intent. Every participle, infinitive, and conjunction serves one purpose: to place Christ above all.
And that’s the invitation: not just to parse the text, but to live it.
