Section 3
up the law, his zeal for it, the righteousness in it, and all other things. This indicates that Christ and the excellency of the knowledge of Him are far superior to the law and all other things.
According to verse 8, Paul not only counted all things to be loss on account of the excel lency of the knowledge of Christ and suffered the loss of all things, but he actually counted them to be refuse. The Greek word for refuse denotes dregs, rubbish, filth, what is thrown to the dogs; hence, dog food, dung. There is no comparison between such things and Christ.
It is important to realize that in 3:8 Paul does not speak of the excellency of Christ, but of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Many readers of Philippians take the word excellency to refer not to the knowledge of Christ, but to Christ Himself. However, Paul specifically and definitely speaks of the excellency of the knowl edge of Christ. Paul's knowledge of Christ was excellent. On account of the excellency of this knowledge, he was willing to suffer the loss of all things.
In verse 7 Paul says "on account of Christ," but in verse 8 he goes further and says "on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." The addition of the words