We sang the wonderful hymn, When I survey the Wondrous Cross this morning – to the Celtic tune. The hymn always reminds me of Philippians 3:8:

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.

It seems we have lost the strength of Paul’s contempt for all the vain things that charm me most, because the word, Σκύβαλον (skubala), translated “dung” in the KJV, would be more accurately rendered “shit”.

The translations are as they are to avoid perturbing the delicate sensibilities of Christians.