Philippians 4:17
in Philippians 4Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account.
KJV
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
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This verse in Philippians 4
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Not 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.
This site's exposition
I am seeking a gift
on Philippians 4:17-18
Paul's eye is on their account, and the fruit that may be credited to your account is banking language, interest accruing to the giver. Then the language turns to the temple, and the gift is a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
For all the righteous possess the sacerdotal rank. And all the apostles of the Lord are priests, who do inherit here neither lands nor houses, but serve God and the altar continually. Of whom Moses also says in Deuteronomy, when blessing Levi, "Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not known thee; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, and he disinherited his own sons: he kept Thy commandments, and observed Thy covenant."
"I am not in want," Paul says, "nor do I ask for these things out of my own need. But you ought to practice benevolence simply in order that your abundance of benevolence may be for me the fruit of your good deeds.… When I …
"Not that I seek for the gift." As he said above, "Not that I speak in respect of want"; that is stronger than this. For it is one thing, that he who is in want, should not seek, and another that he who is in want should not even consider himself to be in want. "Not that I seek for the gift," he says, "but I seek for the fruit, that increaseth to your account." Not mine own. Seest thou, that the fruit is produced for them? This say I for your sake, says he, not for my own, for your salvation. For I gain nothing when I receive, but the grace belongeth to the givers, for the recompense is yonder in store for givers, but the gifts are here consumed by them who receive. Again even his desire is combined with praise and sympathy. When he had said, I do not seek, lest he should again render them remiss, he adds.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Not that I seek the gift. Here it should be noted that when a person gives something to someone else, two things should be considered: the substance of the gift and the merit of the donor. One who takes joy in temporal things rejoices in …
Since he said something humiliating by saying "for my need," then, lest they become proud on this account, he continues: I say this not because I seek a gift from you, but for your benefit, so that you may have fruit that should serve to …
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Not because I desire a gift,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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 (Heb 6:10).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Not 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.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐχ | ouch | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | for | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐπιζητῶ | epizeto | I seek after | G1934 → | |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δόμα, | doma | gift, | G1390 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐπιζητῶ | epizeto | I seek after | G1934 → | |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καρπὸν | karpon | fruit | G2590 → | 66 times |
| τὸν | ton | which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλεονάζοντα | pleonazonta | is abounding | G4121 → | |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| λόγον | logon | [the] account | G3056 → | 329 times |
| ὑμῶν· | humon | of you; | G4771 → | 2973 times |
οὐχNot
ouchG3756 →1664 times
ὅτιfor
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐπιζητῶI seek after
epizetoG1934 →
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
δόμα,gift,
domaG1390 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐπιζητῶI seek after
epizetoG1934 →
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
καρπὸνfruit
karponG2590 →66 times
τὸνwhich
tonG3588 →19766 times
πλεονάζονταis abounding
pleonazontaG4121 →
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
λόγον[the] account
logonG3056 →329 times
ὑμῶν·of you;
humonG4771 →2973 times
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
John 15:8This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
it leads to
- Philippians 1:11
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- John 8:31
So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.
- Philippians 1:11
Through
Philippians 4:11I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 6:6–9
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
- Hebrews 13:5–6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- Matthew 6:31–34
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
- 1 Timothy 6:6–9
Through
Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Hebrews 13:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies18
About Philippians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 4.17; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book IV; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 15; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.