Why did Paul count his former wealth and status as dung?
Paul counted his former wealth and high religious standing as dung for the sake of the Gospel. Though he had profited more than his equals in Judaism and likely owned one of Jerusalem's better homes, he cast it all aside, becoming poor as a church mouse to advance the Gospel.
Les explains that Saul of Tarsus was one of the top Pharisees in Judaism, well known among Jewish religious leaders but unknown outside Palestine. He had been rich, profiting more than his equals in the Jewish religion, and probably had one of the better homes in Jerusalem. Yet Philippians tells us he cast all that aside and counted it as dung for the sake of the Gospel. Les points out that Paul came from that wealth and high religious experience and, for the gospel, became poor as a church mouse. In II Corinthians he describes himself as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, poor yet making many rich, having nothing yet possessing all things.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss 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,
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
More Questions
Where did Paul say he counted everything he owned as dung?
Les ties Paul's loss of everything he owned to Philippians, where Paul said he counted all he had owned as dung.
Was Paul rich before he became a Christian?
Paul had been rich and profited more than his equals in the Jewish religion, as he says in Galatians.