Philippians 2:4
in Philippians 2Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
KJV
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
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This verse in Philippians 2
Commentary
12 notes on this verseLook not every man on his own things - Do nothing through self-interest in the things of God; nor arrogate to yourselves gifts, graces, and fruits, which belong to others; ye are all called to promote God’s glory and the salvation of men. Labor for this, and every one shall receive the honor that comes from God; and let each rejoice to see another, whom God may be pleased to use in a special way, acquiring much reputation by the successful application of his talents to the great work.
This site's exposition
strife or vainglory
on Philippians 2:3-4
Eritheia is faction's self-seeking and kenodoxia is empty glory, the two engines of church division named and forbidden in one line. The remedy is tapeinophrosune, lowliness of mind, a word pagan ethics used as an insult and the gospel made a virtue: let each esteem other better than themselves. Verse 4 turns the eye outward, on the things of others, and the hymn about to follow is the argument for it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
A hermit was asked, 'What is humility?' He answered, 'Humility is a great work, and a work of God. The way of humility is to undertake bodily labour, and believe yourself a sinner, and make yourself the servant of all.' A brother said, 'What does …
If we think only of ourselves, we may act for our own benefit and bother only with our own affairs, our hope, our own deliverance. But this is not enough. We are truly acting for ourselves if we also have a concern for others and …
Are we to paint ourselves out that our neighbours may perish? Where, then, is (the command), "Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself? " "Care not merely about your own (things), but (about your) neighbour's? " No enunciation of the Holy Spirit ought to be (confined) to the subject immediately in hand merely, and not applied and carried out with a view to every occasion to which its application is useful.
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
There once came from the city of Rome a monk who had held a high place in the palace. He lived near the church in Scetis, and had with him a servant to take care of him. The priest of the church saw that he …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Thirdly, he urges them to mutual care, saying let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others: "That the members may have the same care for one another" (1 Cor. 12:25); "Love does not insist on …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
When I care about what is beneficial for you, and you about what is beneficial for me, then there will be no place for vainglory, nor for quarrels, nor for anything bad whatsoever, but life will be angelic and divine.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Look, not every man on his own things,....
We must love our neighbour as ourselves, and make his case our own. Here is a gospel pattern proposed to our imitation, and that is the example of our Lord Jesus Christ: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The oldest manuscripts read, "Not looking each of you (plural, Greek) on his own things (that is, not having regard solely to them), but each of you on the things of others" also.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Look not every man on his own things - That is, be not selfish. Do not let your care and attention be wholly absorbed by your own concerns, or by the concerns of your own family. Evince a tender interest for the happiness of the whole, and let the welfare of others lie near your hearts. This, of course, does not mean that there is to be any improper interference in the business of others, or that we are to have the character of “busy-bodies in other people’s matters” (compare the 2Th 3:11, note; 1Ti 5:13, note; 1Pe 4:15, note); but that we are to regard with appropriate solicitude the welfare of others, and to strive to do them good. But every man also on the things of others - It is the duty of every man to do this. No one is at liberty to live for himself or to disregard the wants of others. The object of this rule is to break up the narrow spirit of selfishness, and to produce a benevolent regard for the happiness of others. In respect to the rule we may observe: (1) We are not to be “busybodies” in the concerns of others; see the references above. We are not to attempt to pry into their secret purposes. Every man has his own plans, and thoughts, and intentions, which no other one has a right to look into. Nothing is more odious than a meddler in the concerns of others. (2) We are not to obtrude our advice where it is not sought, or at unseasonable times and places, even if the advice is in itself good. No one likes to be interrupted to hear advice; and I have no right to require that he should suspend his business in order that I may give him counsel. (3) We are not to find fault with what pertains exclusively to him. […]
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑαυτῶν | he'auton | their own | G1438 → | 322 times |
| ἕκαστος | hekastos | each one | G1538 → | |
| σκοποῦντες | skopountes | considering | G4648 → | |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑτέρων | heteron | of others | G2087 → | |
| ἕκαστοι. | hekastoi | everyone. | G1538 → |
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
ἑαυτῶνtheir own
he'autonG1438 →322 times
ἕκαστοςeach one
hekastosG1538 →
σκοποῦντεςconsidering
skopountesG4648 →
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
ἑτέρωνof others
heteronG2087 →
ἕκαστοι.everyone.
hekastoiG1538 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 15:1We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
- Romans 14:1
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.
- Galatians 6:1–2
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
- 1 Corinthians 9:22
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Through
James 2:8If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
it leads to
- Leviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
- Galatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Leviticus 19:18
Through
1 Corinthians 10:24No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
it leads to
- Romans 15:1–2
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- Philippians 2:4–5
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- Romans 15:1–2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Philippians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 2.2-5; J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On the Apparel of Women Book II; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.