“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,”
(Philippians 3:8)

There is no greater knowledge than that which God teaches all His children by the Holy Spirit when He teaches them of the glory of Christ crucified and risen again (Jeremiah 31:34; John 6:45).

Knowledge for knowledge’s sake alone merely makes a person proud and self-righteous.

Knowledge without grace, truth, and heart merely makes a person outwardly pious and judgmental.

But when God the Holy Spirit teaches us of our utter depravity and sinfulness and then drives us to Christ for all righteousness, eternal life, and glory, this is the excellence of knowledge that causes us to consider all things that rival Christ to be no more than dung so that we may win Christ and be found in Him, having been washed in His precious blood and clothed in His perfect righteousness. God uses the means of preachers preaching the Gospel of His grace in Christ to us, but it is only by the Holy Spirit that this excellent knowledge is imparted to our hearts unto salvation. This is the knowledge that brings us to faith in Christ and repentance of dead works (Philippians 3:7).

This is the knowledge that comes in the fear of the Lord as we see the glory of the Person and finished work of Christ for whole salvation (Proverbs 1:7)