“But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, as the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” — Philippians 3:8–11

Recently, while studying this passage in Philippians, something stood out to me. When the apostle Paul wrote about the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ and his desire to know Him more, he used two different Greek words. This highlights something incredibly important: Knowing about Jesus is not the same as truly knowing Him.

Let’s dig a little deeper into this together.

The Surpassing Excellence of Knowing Christ

First, Paul declares, “I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

The Greek word translated as “knowing” in this verse is gnōsis, which refers to knowledge or understanding. According to Strong’s Concordance, the word can describe a deeper, more complete understanding of divine truth. In this passage, Paul’s knowledge of Christ was far more than an accumulation of religious facts. It was a knowledge he considered more valuable than anything else in his life.

Think about that for a moment. Paul had impressive religious credentials. He was highly educated in the Scriptures, zealous for the law, and respected for his religious devotion. Yet he considered all these accomplishments worthless compared to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus.

So where did this knowledge come from?

Certainly, Paul possessed extensive knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures, but that knowledge alone had not brought him to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. It wasn’t until his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus that everything changed. Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, transforming his understanding of the Scriptures and his entire purpose in life.

And the revelation didn’t end there. The Holy Spirit continued to illuminate God’s truth throughout Paul’s life and ministry.

Jesus spoke of this role of the Holy Spirit in John 16:13:

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.”

And in John 15:26, Jesus said:

“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.”

This same Holy Spirit continues to reveal the truth of Christ to believers today!

What is a primary means by which God accomplishes this gnosis knowing in our lives today? Through the enlightenment and witness-bearing the Holy Spirit brings when we read Scripture. As we study God’s Word, the Holy Spirit illuminates its truth, deepens our understanding, and helps us recognize more fully who Jesus is.

But there’s something even more beautiful about knowing Christ that Paul reveals in the next verse.

From Knowledge to Intimate Fellowship

In Philippians 3:10, Paul writes:

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.”

Here, the Greek word translated “know” is ginōskō, which can describe coming to know someone through personal experience and relationship.

Interestingly, this same Greek word is used in Matthew 1:25 to describe the intimate marital relationship between Joseph and Mary, when Scripture says Joseph did not “know” Mary until after Jesus was born. Although the word doesn’t always carry this intimate meaning, its use illustrates just how personal and experiential knowing someone can be.

I find it fascinating that God designed human intimacy to produce the physical fruit of children, while our spiritual intimacy with Christ produces spiritual fruit in our lives. Although these are different kinds of relationships, both remind me that genuine intimacy bears fruit.

And that brings us to something significant about Paul’s words.

Paul wasn’t merely seeking more information about Jesus. He wanted to experience Christ more deeply and personally. He wanted to know His power, share in His sufferings, and become increasingly like Him.

He didn’t simply want to know more about Christ. He wanted to know Christ more.

The Incredible Gift of the Indwelling Holy Spirit

How is this kind of intimate relationship with Christ possible?

Jesus gives us a beautiful answer in John 14:17:

“He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

The word translated “know” in this verse also comes from ginōskō.

Notice what Jesus says about the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t simply promise that the Spirit will be with His followers. He promises that the Spirit will be in them!

Does that amaze you as much as it does me?

The God of the universe has chosen to dwell within those who belong to Him! Through the Holy Spirit, we can enjoy ongoing fellowship with Christ, experiencing His presence, guidance, comfort, conviction, and transforming power.

This is one of the most extraordinary truths of the Christian faith. God doesn’t merely invite us to learn about Him or follow a set of religious instructions. Through Jesus Christ, He invites us into a personal relationship with Himself.

And this relationship is made possible not by our own righteousness, but by His grace.

Paul makes this clear in Philippians 3:9 when he explains that he desires to be found in Christ, “not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.”

What a beautiful truth! We don’t earn the privilege of knowing God through religious accomplishments or good works. Through the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to God and welcomed into fellowship with Him.

Grace doesn’t simply save us from something. It brings us to Someone.

Are We Pursuing Knowledge or Relationship?

Pause with me for a moment and think about someone famous whom you know a great deal about.

Perhaps you’ve read their biography, followed their accomplishments, watched their interviews, and studied details about their personal life. You might even feel as though you know them better than most people do.

But do you truly know them?

Not in the way you know a close friend or family member. That kind of relationship develops through personal interaction, shared experiences, meaningful conversations, and time spent together.

The same distinction is worth considering in our relationship with Jesus.

It’s possible to know the stories, teachings, and miracles of Jesus without personally knowing Him. Someone could possess an extraordinary understanding of biblical history and theology, yet never have entered into a saving relationship with Christ.

And even as believers, we can become so focused on learning about Jesus or serving Him that we neglect spending meaningful time in fellowship with Him.

Please don’t misunderstand me. Studying Scripture is essential! We cannot truly know Christ while neglecting the truth He has revealed about Himself. But biblical knowledge should lead us into deeper love, trust, obedience, and communion with Him.

When I speak of communion, I’m not referring here to the observance of the Lord’s Supper. I’m referring to personal fellowship—sharing our hearts with the Lord, bringing our thoughts and feelings before Him, listening through His Word, and resting in His presence.

Our prayer lives should be more than a one-way conversation consisting primarily of requests. Prayer is also an opportunity to worship, surrender, listen, and enjoy fellowship with the One who knows us completely.

Jesus described this ongoing relationship in John 15 when He called His followers to abide in Him.

To abide means to remain, continue, or dwell. It is a picture of an ongoing, dependent relationship with Christ.

And just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, we cannot produce lasting spiritual fruit apart from Him.

The more we abide in Christ, the more His life is reflected in ours.

Knowing the Power of His Resurrection

You may have noticed that Paul didn’t simply say he wanted to know Christ. He also wanted to know “the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.”

What does that mean?

Paul longed to experience the transforming power of the risen Christ in his own life.

Bible scholar Kenneth Wuest described Paul’s desire like this: “He wants to know in an experiential way the power of Christ’s resurrection. That is, he wants to experience the same power that raised Christ from the dead surging through his own being, overcoming sin in his life and producing the Christian graces.”

I love that explanation!

The same divine power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in those who belong to Him. Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to resist sin, grow in holiness, love others more deeply, and increasingly reflect the character of Christ.

This is the beautiful work of sanctification—the lifelong process through which God transforms us into the likeness of His Son.

But Paul also wanted to know the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings.

That’s a part of this passage we shouldn’t overlook.

Intimacy with Christ isn’t developed only in moments of peace and joy. Sometimes our deepest fellowship with Him comes through seasons of suffering, when our own strength is insufficient and we learn to depend upon Him more completely.

As we walk through trials with Christ, we discover His faithfulness, comfort, and sustaining grace in ways we might never have experienced otherwise.

Paul understood this firsthand. He had suffered persecution, imprisonment, rejection, and hardship for the sake of Christ. Yet rather than turning away from Jesus, these experiences deepened his desire to know Him.

His goal wasn’t simply to experience God’s power or receive His blessings. His greatest desire was Christ Himself.

Do You Know About Jesus, or Do You Truly Know Him?

As I reflect on Paul’s words, I’m struck by the fact that this spiritually mature apostle, who had experienced extraordinary encounters with God and devoted his life to proclaiming Christ, still longed to know Him more.

If Paul never reached a point where he felt he knew Christ well enough, how much more should we desire to grow in our relationship with Him?

There is always more to discover about His character, more of His faithfulness to experience, and more room for His transforming work in our hearts.

The Christian life was never intended to be merely a collection of biblical facts, religious activities, or good works. It is a living relationship with Jesus Christ, made possible by grace and nurtured through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

And the beautiful thing is that the One we are pursuing already knows us completely and loves us ardently beyond measure.

So today, I want to encourage you to ask yourself a question:

Do I know about Jesus, or do I truly know Him?

And if you already know Him, perhaps there’s another question worth asking:

Am I intentionally pursuing a deeper relationship with Him, or have I become content simply knowing more about Him?

My prayer is that we would never become satisfied with merely knowing the facts about Jesus, but that our hearts would continually echo Paul’s passionate declaration:

“I want to know Christ.” — Philippians 3:10

Because there is no greater treasure, no greater privilege, and no greater pursuit than knowing Him.

Ardently His,

Leah

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