English Standard Version
Philippians 4:17
17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
Context of Philippians 4:17
15And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Read all of Philippians 4Philippians 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 am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
- 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.
- Acts 20:33I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
- 1 Corinthians 9:12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 11:16I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.
- 1 Timothy 3:3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
- 1 Timothy 6:10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
- 1 Peter 5:2shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
- 2 Peter 2:3And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
- Jude 1:11Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.
- Philippians 1:11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- Micah 7:1Woe is me! For I have become as when the summer fruit has been gathered, as when the grapes have been gleaned: there is no cluster to eat, no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.
- John 15:8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
- Romans 15:28When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.
- 2 Corinthians 9:9As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given 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
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries