The Most Offensive Word in Philippians

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

Philippians 3:8 (NLT)

Paul was not a man of low status. By every human measure he was at the top—heritage, education, zeal, obedience. If righteousness could be earned through the law, Paul had it nailed down. But then he met Christ, and everything shifted. What once looked like treasure now belonged on the trash heap.

The word Paul uses in verse 8 is often softened in translation as “rubbish” or “garbage.” But in Greek, skubalon was a crude, offensive word that would have shocked proper ears. It only appears once in the New Testament, but in common Greek it was a strong, even vulgar term. The imagery would have been revolting—filthy excrement, dung, waste.  In other words, Paul is not politely dismissing his old life. He is saying it reeks compared to Christ. All of it—his background, his reputation, his law-keeping—meant nothing for righteousness. His confidence shifted completely to Christ.

That shift is the foundation for everything that follows. Because he has Christ’s righteousness, Paul runs after Christ’s likeness. He knows he hasn’t arrived, but he presses forward with holy dissatisfaction, straining toward the goal of maturity. Grace does not make him passive—it makes him persevere. He runs hard, not to earn Christ, but because Christ has already made him His own.

And he warns with tears of another path: those who claim Christ but live as enemies of the cross. Their desire is their god—their minds fixed on earthly things. They glory in their shame, and it grieved Paul. And it should grieve us. A life of indulgence and pride is not a neutral choice—it is a path away from Christ.

But believers live by a different reality. Our citizenship is in heaven. We await a Savior who will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body. That hope fuels the pursuit. We lay down confidence in ourselves, count all else as loss, and press on to the prize of Christ Himself. As the Westminster Catechism reminds us, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” To know Him is better than any achievement. To gain Him is worth more than every accolade. To be found in Him—righteous by His record, not ours—is the only ground we stand on.

Reflection Question:
Where are you tempted to place confidence—in background, achievements, or desires—and how does Paul’s example call you to count it loss and press on toward maturity in Christ?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I confess my temptation to cling to my own achievements, reputation, and strength. Help me see them for what they are compared to You—dung. Anchor my confidence in Your righteousness alone, and keep me pressing forward until the day I see You face to face. Amen.

Further Reflection:

📖 Philippians 3

📖 Romans 3:21–24

📖 2 Corinthians 5:21

📖 Colossians 3:1–4

📖 Hebrews 12:1–2

📖 1 John 3:7–10