New International Version
Philippians 2:21
21For everyone looks out for 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.
- 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.
- 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, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things 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 2:4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
- Isaiah 56:11They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain.
- Malachi 1:10“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
- Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
- Luke 9:57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
- Luke 14:26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
- Acts 13:13From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
- Acts 15:38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
- 1 Corinthians 10:24No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
- 1 Corinthians 13:5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
- 2 Timothy 1:15You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
- 2 Timothy 3:2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
- 2 Timothy 4:10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Philippians 1:20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
- 2 Corinthians 1:5For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 5:14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and 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
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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