Lexical Summary kerdos: Gain, Profit Original Word: κέρδος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gain, lucre. Of uncertain affinity; gain (pecuniary or genitive case) -- gain, lucre. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 2771 kérdos – gain (profit), acquired through "faith-trading." Accordingly, faith (4102 /pístis) and 2772 (kérma) are directly connected (Phil 1:21-25,3:7-9). See 2770 (kerdainō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition gain NASB Translation gain (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2771: κέρδοςκέρδος, κερδεος (κέρδους), τό, gain, advantage: Philippians 1:21 (with which cf. Aelian v. h. 4, 7 τοῖς κακοῖς οὐδέ τό ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος); Titus 1:11; plural Philippians 3:7. (From Homer down.) Topical Lexicon Overview of the Term The noun translated “gain” carries the idea of profit in the broadest sense—monetary, social, or spiritual. In the New Testament its three appearances trace a sharp line between the world’s concept of advantage and the far higher profit found in Christ. Occurrences in the New Testament Philippians 1:21; Philippians 3:7; Titus 1:11. Contextual Insights: Philippians 1. In Philippians 1:21 Paul writes, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”. Imprisoned and facing possible execution, he weighs earthly life against the surpassing profit of departing to be with Christ. Gain here is not self–serving but Christ–centered – a confession that the believer’s ultimate advantage is fellowship with the Lord, whether in life or death. Contextual Insights: Titus Titus 1:11 deals with false teachers on Crete “for the sake of dishonest gain”. Here gain is qualified as shameful, revealing the danger of attaching the gospel to financial or social profit. Paul commands Titus to silence such voices, protecting households from corruption and preserving the church’s witness. Spiritual versus Material Gain The same Greek noun frames two antithetical pursuits: Scripture therefore exposes motives, asking whether a believer’s ledger is filled by sacrificial devotion or by exploitative ambition. Pauline Theology of Gain Paul applies marketplace language to spiritual accounting. In Philippians he transfers all assets (heritage, zeal, achievements) to the loss column because Christ’s worth eclipses them. Death, often tallied as the greatest loss, becomes gain because it ushers the believer into unmediated communion with the Lord. This Christ-centered economy undercuts both legalistic pride and material greed. Ethical Warnings against Dishonest Gain Titus 1:11 resonates with Old Testament rebukes of prophets and priests who ministered for hire (for example, Micah 3:11). Leaders who view ministry as a revenue stream invert gospel priorities, place stumbling blocks before weaker believers, and invite God’s discipline. Biblical oversight must therefore include vigilant safeguarding of financial integrity. Historical Background In the Greco-Roman world kerdos signified commercial profit and was prized in civic life. Philosophers like Aristotle debated legitimate versus shameful gain, but Scripture goes further, declaring that even morally neutral profit becomes loss when it displaces Christ. Paul, writing from Roman custody and addressing a Cretan culture notorious for avarice, adopts familiar economic vocabulary to confront prevailing values with kingdom realities. Related Concepts and Contrasts • Loss (ζημία) in Philippians 3:7-8—true profit requires a willingness to suffer worldly deficit. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Motive check: pastors, teachers, and missionaries must continually assess whether their service seeks Christ’s glory or personal advantage. Contemporary Application Modern consumer culture touts profit as the supreme goal. Philippians redirects believers to evaluate every ambition—career, reputation, possessions—by the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Simultaneously, Titus reminds the church to expose and correct any ministry model driven by greed, ensuring that the gospel retains its purity and power. Conclusion The New Testament’s brief but potent use of this noun compels believers to adopt God’s balance sheet: Christ alone is gain; everything that competes with Him is loss, and any attempt to monetize His message is spiritual bankruptcy. Forms and Transliterations κερδη κέρδη κερδος κέρδος κερδους κέρδους κέρκον κέρκου κέρκων κερκώπων kerde kerdē kérde kérdē kerdos kérdos kerdous kérdousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Philippians 1:21 N-NNSGRK: τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος NAS: is Christ and to die is gain. KJV: and to die [is] gain. INT: to die gain Philippians 3:7 N-NNP Titus 1:11 N-GNS Strong's Greek 2771 |
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