Philippians 2:21

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For they all seek 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.

Context of Philippians 2:21

19But I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22But you know of his proven character, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me;

Philippians 2:21 word by word

οἱ πάντες γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ζητοῦσιν, οὐ τὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ·Read the interlinear

• For they allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• seekζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
• their ownἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• not thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424

Cross-references for Philippians 2:21

• Philippians 2:4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
• Isaiah 56:11And the dogs are greedy, they are never satisfied. And they are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, Each one to his unjust gain, without exception.
• Malachi 1:10“If only there were one among you who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar for nothing! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of armies, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand.
• Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
• Luke 9:57As they were going on 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, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
• Acts 13:13Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
• Acts 15:38But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
• 1 Corinthians 10:24No one is to seek his own advantage, but rather that of his neighbor.
• 1 Corinthians 13:5It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,
• 2 Timothy 1:15You are aware of the fact 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, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
• 2 Timothy 4:10for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
• Philippians 1:20according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
• 2 Corinthians 1:5For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 5:14For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all 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

• Selfishness
• Timothy

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Apostle
• Companion
• Disputing
• Lowliness
• Nigh
• Presently
• Vainglory
• Fashion

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