Philippians 4:17

Philippians 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
• New International Version (NIV)Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

Context of Philippians 4:17

15And you Philippians know that in the early days of preaching the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; 16for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I do seek the profit which increases to your [heavenly] account [the blessing which is accumulating for you]. 18But I have received everything in full and more; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. They are the fragrant aroma of an offering, an acceptable sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights. 19And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:17 word by word

οὐχ ὅτι ἐπιζητῶ τὸ δόμα, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπιζητῶ τὸν καρπὸν τὸν πλεονάζοντα εἰς λόγον ὑμῶν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Notοὐou · noG3756
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• I desireἐπιζητέωepizēteō · to seek afterG1934
• a giftὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• a giftδόμαdoma · giftG1390
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• fruitκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590
• that may aboundπλεονάζωpleonazō · to increaseG4121
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• accountλόγοςlogos · wordG3056

Cross-references for Philippians 4:17

• Philippians 4:11Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.
• Malachi 1:10“Oh, that there were even one among you [whose duty it is to minister to Me] who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar uselessly [with an empty, worthless pretense]! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand.
• Acts 20:33I had no desire for anyone’s silver or gold or [expensive] clothes.
• 1 Corinthians 9:12If others share in this rightful claim over you, do not we even more? However, we did not exercise this right, but we put up with everything so that we will not hinder [the spread of] the good news of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 11:16I repeat then, let no one think that I am foolish; but even if you do, at least accept me as foolish, so that I too may boast a little.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:5For as you well know, we never came with words of flattery nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness—
• 1 Timothy 3:3not addicted to wine, not a bully nor quick-tempered and hot-headed, but gentle and considerate, free from the love of money [not greedy for wealth and its inherent power—financially ethical].
• 1 Timothy 6:10For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.
• 1 Peter 5:2shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm;
• 2 Peter 2:3And in their greed they will exploit you with false arguments and twisted doctrine. Their sentence [of condemnation which God has decreed] from a time long ago is not idle [but is still in force], and their destruction and deepening misery is not asleep [but is on its way].
• Jude 1:11Woe to them! For they have gone the [defiant] way of Cain, and for profit they have run headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of [mutinous] Korah.
• Philippians 1:11filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized].
• Micah 7:1Woe is me (judgment is coming)! For I am Like one who gathers the summer fruits, like one who gleans the vintage grapes. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, No first-ripe fig which my appetite craves.
• John 15:8My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.
• Romans 15:28Therefore, when I have finished this [mission] and have safely given to them what has been raised, I will go on by way of you to Spain.
• 2 Corinthians 9:9As it is written and forever remains written, “He [the benevolent and generous person] scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever!”

Commentaries on Philippians 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Not because I desire a gift - I do not speak thus to incite you to send me a farther gift; I speak this on the general subject, because I wish you to bear such fruit as shall abound to your account in the day of the Lord.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Not because I desire a gift - “The reason why I rejoice in the reception of what you have sent to me, is not that I am covetous.” From the interest with which he had spoken of their attention to him, some might perhaps be disposed to say, that it arose from this cause. He says, therefore, that, grateful as he was for the favor which he had received, his chief interest in it arose from the fact that it would contribute ultimately to their own good. It…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-19Verses 10-19 It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Not that I am seeking a gift: Paul preferred to support himself financially (see Acts 18:3; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 9:3–18; 2 Corinthians 11:7–11; 12:14–15). Paul was not seeking a gift for himself. Instead, he wanted their generosity to produce spiritual fruit, a reward from God credited to their accountRead the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. a gift--Greek, "the gift." Translate, "It is not that I seek after the gift, but I do seek after the fruit that aboundeth to your account"; what I do seek is your spiritual good, in the abounding of fruits of your faith which shall be put down to your account, against the day of reward (He 6:10).Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 4:17

• Beneficence
• Church
• Minister, Christian
• Philippi
• Unselfishness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Communicate
• Crown
• Epaphroditus
• Need
• Request
• Therewith
• Bible, the
• Macedonia
• Money
• Philippi

Commentaries on Philippians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings