Skubala

Paul uses a word in Philippians that is comes up only once in the bible, but which was not uncommon in the first century. The word was SKUBALA. It describes how he thought of all his achievements and his privilege. The NIV translates it this way:

I consider them all garbage that I might gain Christ. - Philippians 3:8

In seminary they give you a massive lexicon that translates Greek words, giving their background and meaning, called the BAGD Lexicon. If you were to look up Skubala, ‘garbage’ is not the standard translation. This definitive research book says that skubala is a “vulgar” form of “human excrement” or “lumps of manure” (direct quotes from BAGD). That’s a lot of fancy, highbrow rhetoric to say, it’s shit.

Typically we don’ think of ‘curse words’ as playing a significant role in our devotional reading. Oh well!

For Paul, he’s willing to use a super offensive word to talk about all the, well, shit in his life that really didn’t get him intimacy with God or a clean conscience or a sense of purpose and peace. All those other things, whether money or fame or achievements or family or reputation, were just a pile of shit compared to getting more of Christ. Of course, that doesn’t mean that money or achievements or family, etc. don’t have any value - of course they do. These can be blessings and can be part of what it means for us to receive and enjoy God’s goodness. But as a means of making us ok, as ultimate goals, they stink.

Doesn’t this make you think about how good Paul thought Jesus was? I mean, Jesus was so good that everything else smelled like shit in comparison. Is that how you think of Jesus?