Though  I  might  also  have  confidence  in  the
flesh. — Circumcised  the  eighth  day,  of  the
stock  of  Israel,  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  an
Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews ;  as  touching  the  law,
a  Pharisee ;  concerning  zeal,  persecuting  the
Church ;  touching  the  righteousness  which  is
in  the  law,  blameless.  But  what  things  were
gain  to  me,  those  I  counted  loss  for  Christ.
Yea  doubtless,  and  I  count  all  things  but  loss

♦  Ch.  vi.  12,  13.  t  Ver.  14.
know  nothing  hut  Christ.  25

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,  and  be  found
in  Him."*

From  these  passages  thus  illustrating  the
text  before  us,  St.  Paul  has  himself  defined
what  he  intended  in  the  determination  to
know  nothing  but  Christ.  It  was  to  preach
the  gospel  in  its  own  strength  and  purity;
it  was  to  preach  it  apart  from  all  intermixture
of  heathen  philosophy,  and  Jewish  signs  and
ceremonies ;  it  was  to  preach  it  as  a  system
from  God,  and  not  as  dependent  upon  human
help,  and  personal  privileges.
It  is  from  misunderstanding  this  passage  of
Holy  Writ,  which  the  apostle  thus  applies  to
himself,  that  many  have  been  led  to  a  wrong
interpretation  of  it  as  applicable  to  themselves.
