English Standard Version
Philippians 2:21
21For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
- New International Version (NIV)For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
- New Living Translation (NLT)All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.
Context of Philippians 2:21
19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,
Read all of Philippians 2Philippians 2:21 word by word
οἱ πάντες γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ζητοῦσιν, οὐ τὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Philippians 2:21
- Philippians 2:4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- Isaiah 56:11The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.
- Malachi 1:10Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.
- Matthew 16:24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
- Luke 9:57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
- Luke 14:26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
- Acts 13:13Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,
- Acts 15:38But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
- 1 Corinthians 10:24Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
- 1 Corinthians 13:5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
- 2 Timothy 1:15You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
- 2 Timothy 3:2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
- 2 Timothy 4:10For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
- Philippians 1:20as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
- 2 Corinthians 1:5For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
- 2 Corinthians 5:14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
Commentaries on Philippians 2:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21For all seek their own - This must relate to the persons who preached Christ even of envy and strife, Philemon 1:15; these must be very careless whether souls were saved or not by such preaching; and even those who preached the Gospel out of good will might not be fit for such an embassy as this, which required many sacrifices, and consequently much love and zeal to be able to make them.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21For all seek their own - That is, all who are with me. Who Paul had with him at this time is not fully known, but he doubtless means that this remark should apply to the mass of Christians and Christian ministers then in Rome. Perhaps he had proposed to some of them to go and visit the church at Philippi, and they had declined it because of the distance and the dangers of the way. When the trial of Paul came on before the emperor, all who were with him in…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-30Verses 19-30 It is best with us, when our duty becomes natural to us. Naturally, that is, sincerely, and not in pretence only; with a willing heart and upright views. We are apt to prefer our own credit, ease, and safety, before truth, holiness, and duty; but Timothy did not so. Paul desired liberty, not that he might take pleasure, but that he might do good. Epaphroditus was willing to go to the Philippians, that he might be comforted with those who had…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-24Paul praises Timothy, whome he hopes to send to the Philippians in the near future. Timothy traveled with Paul on his first trip to Philippi (see Acts 16:1–3, 12; 17:15; 18:5; compare Acts 19:22). Timothy was known for dedicating his life to Jesus Christ and caring for others.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-301. The "therefore" implies that he is here expanding on the exhortation (Php 1:27), "In one Spirit, with one mind (soul)." He urges four influencing motives in this verse, to inculcate the four Christian duties corresponding respectively to them (Php 2:2). "That ye be like-minded, having the same love, of one accord, of one mind"; (1) "If there be (with you) any consolation in Christ," that is, any consolation of which Christ is the source, leading you to…Read the comment
Topics related to Philippians 2:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Philippians 2
- 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
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