κέρδος

From the study of Philippians 1:21

Range of meaning

Gain, profit, advantage. It belongs to trade and accounting (the profit side of a transaction) and also has a wider sense of anything that benefits a person. It is rare in the NT: Philippians 1:21; 3:7; Titus 1:11 ("shameful gain"). The related verb kerdainō, "to gain, profit", is common (e.g. Mark 8:36, "gain the whole world").

Against the English

English "gain" is correct but can sound vague ("improvement", "a plus"). The Greek word has a clearer commercial edge, "profit". NLT's "dying is even better" keeps the comparison but loses the bookkeeping image and the link to Philippians 3.

How it drifted

Not a real drift so much as a flattening: the commercial picture in "gain" has faded in ordinary English.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in Greek business documents and in moral writing for profit or advantage (BDAG). Plato Apology 40d uses kerdos for death. Within Philippians, 3:7–8 develops the same ledger: "whatever things were gains (kerdē) to me, these I have counted loss because of Christ… that I may gain (kerdēsō) Christ." The letter also uses other financial language with the Philippians: "giving and receiving" and "credit to your account" (4:15–17).

From the study of Philippians 3:7

Range of meaning

Profit or gain, especially financial or commercial gain. It is also used by extension for any advantage. It appears only three times in the New Testament (Phil 1:21, 3:7; Titus 1:11).

Against the English

English 'gain' is accurate. Most English versions turn the plural into a singular ('whatever was gain', 'whatever gain I had'). That hides Paul's contrast between many gains and one loss. YLT and NIV keep the plural 'gains'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek writers commonly paired κέρδος with ζημία as 'profit and loss', in business and in moral writing; Plato and Aristotle discuss the two as a pair. Business papyri use κέρδος for trading profit. Jesus' saying in Matt 16:26 uses the same pair as verbs: 'gain (κερδήσῃ) the whole world and suffer the loss (ζημιωθῇ) of his soul'. Paul himself wrote 'to die is gain (κέρδος)' in Phil 1:21.

From the study of Titus 1:11

Range of meaning

Gain, profit, advantage, financial or otherwise.

Against the English

KJV 'lucre' (from Latin lucrum) is now archaic or comic. 'Gain' is accurate. NLT's 'money' is concrete but drops the wider sense of advantage.

Used elsewhere in the period

Phil 1:21 ('to die is gain') and 3:7 use it for advantage in general. Here, joined to 'shameful' and set in a discussion of teachers, it most likely means material profit. Compare 1 Tim 6:5, people who suppose 'godliness is a means of gain'.