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.
• 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.
• 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

15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his 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 4:11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
• 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.
• Acts 20:33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
• 1 Corinthians 9:12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 11:16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.
• 1 Timothy 3:3not given to drunkenness, 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 evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
• 1 Peter 5:2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
• 2 Peter 2:3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
• Jude 1:11Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed 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 7:1What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave.
• John 15:8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
• Romans 15:28So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way.
• 2 Corinthians 9:9As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their 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