Philippians 3:8

3:8 More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things – indeed, I regard them as dung! ¹  – that I may gain Christ,

Philippians 4:3

4:3 Yes, I say also to you, true companion, ²  help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry ³  along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.

¹ tn The word here translated “dung” was often used in Greek as a vulgar term for fecal matter. As such it would most likely have had a certain shock value for the readers. This may well be Paul’s meaning here, especially since the context is about what the flesh produces.

² tn Or “faithful fellow worker.” This is more likely a descriptive noun, although some scholars interpret the word σύζυγος (suzugos) here as a proper name (“Syzygos”), L&N 42.45.

³ tn Grk “in the gospel,” a metonymy in which the gospel itself is substituted for the ministry of making the gospel known.