Philippians 4:17 kjv
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Philippians 4:17 nkjv
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
Philippians 4:17 niv
Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
Philippians 4:17 esv
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
Philippians 4:17 nlt
I don't say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
Philippians 4 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Phil 4:17 | Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. | Paul's desire for fruit |
| 1 Cor 9:7 | Who goes as a soldier to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? | Support of ministers |
| 1 Cor 9:11 | If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? | Reciprocity of sowing |
| 1 Tim 5:17-18 | The elders who rule well are to be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in word... | Honor for elders |
| Gal 6:6 | Let the one who is taught the word share all his good things with the one who teaches. | Sharing good things |
| Luke 6:38 | Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over... | Principle of giving |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be... | Blessings on giving |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to... | Tithe and testing God |
| 2 Cor 9:10 | He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and... | God supplies the sower |
| Deut 15:10 | You shall give to him, and your heart shall not be uneasy when you give to him, because the LORD your... | Generous giving |
| Matt 10:8 | Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give with... | Ministry and giving |
| Heb 13:16 | Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. | Pleasing sacrifices |
| Acts 4:32 | Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed that any of... | Unity and sharing |
| 2 Cor 8:7 | But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love... | Abounding grace |
| 2 Cor 8:24 | Therefore show before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. | Proof of love |
| 2 Cor 9:12 | For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also abounding... | Ministry abounding |
| Prov 11:25 | Whoever blesses others will be greatly blessed, and one who waters will himself be watered. | Watering others |
| 2 Cor 9:6 | The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously... | Generous sowing |
| Acts 20:35 | In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must support the weak and remember... | Supporting the weak |
| 3 John 1:5-8 | Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are... | Supporting strangers |
Philippians 4 verses
Philippians 4 17 Meaning
This verse speaks of the abundant, supernatural fruit that comes from supporting a gospel minister, which God counts as a righteous act. It's not just a financial transaction but a spiritual investment with divine favor and increase.
Philippians 4 17 Context
Philippians 4:17 occurs towards the end of the letter, following Paul's expression of deep gratitude for the Philippian believers' generous financial support during his imprisonment. He reassures them that his pursuit of their contribution is not for personal gain but for the increase of their spiritual "account" or "fruit." The context highlights the reciprocal relationship between ministers of the gospel and those who support them, emphasizing that such support is a form of spiritual sowing and reaping, pleasing to God.
Philippians 4 17 Word Analysis
- Οὐχ (ouch) - "Not." A strong negation.
- ὅτι (hoti) - "That." Introduces a subordinate clause.
- ζητῶ (zētō) - "I seek" or "I seek after." Present active indicative of ζητέω (zēteō), implying a continuous desire. Paul isn't greedily seeking but rather desires the spiritual outcome.
- τὸ (to) - "The." Definite article.
- δῶρον (dōron) - "Gift" or "present." Refers to the financial contribution the Philippians had sent.
- ἀλλ’ (all’) - "But." A contrast conjunction.
- ὅ (ho) - "The thing which" or "that which."
- περισεῦον (perisseuon) - "Abounding" or "overflowing." Present active participle of περισσεύω (perisseuō). Indicates an abundant, exceeding quantity, implying God's favor and increase.
- εἰς (eis) - "Into" or "unto." A preposition indicating direction or destination.
- τὸν (ton) - "The." Definite article.
- καρπὸν (karpon) - "Fruit." Accusative case, object of the seeking. This is a metaphor for the positive spiritual results or blessings that stem from a righteous act.
- τοῦ (tou) - "Of the." Genitive article.
- λογιζομένου (logizomenou) - "Being counted" or "being reckoned." Present passive participle of λογίζομαι (logizomai). The fruit is being credited to their account in a spiritual sense.
- ὑμῶν. (hymōn) - "Your." Possessive pronoun.
Word Group Analysis:
- "I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit": This stark contrast (οὐχ ὅτι... ἀλλ’ ὅ) clarifies Paul's motivation. The "gift" (δῶρον) is the tangible financial aid. The "fruit" (καρπὸν) represents the intangible spiritual benefits, blessings, and positive spiritual outcomes resulting from their act of generosity.
- "Fruit that abounds": The participle περισεῦον emphasizes that the spiritual results are not minimal but abundant and exceeding, suggesting a divine multiplier effect on their giving.
- "Fruit that abounds to your account": The phrase εἰς τὸν καρπὸν τοῦ λογιζομένου ὑμῶν links the abundance directly to them. It is as if God maintains a spiritual ledger, crediting them with the "fruit" of their generosity.
Philippians 4 17 Bonus Section
The Greek term "λογιζομένου" (logizomenou - being counted/reckoned) is significant here. It echoes the concept of "faith being counted as righteousness" in Romans 4:3, which refers to God's accounting. Paul suggests that righteous actions, like generous giving done in faith, are also "counted" by God to the believer's spiritual credit, resulting in blessed fruit. This "fruit" can manifest as increased faith, deepened peace, wisdom, provision, and a more impactful ministry in the lives of believers who partner with gospel workers. This reinforces the idea of stewardship and accountability in how we use our resources for God's kingdom.
Philippians 4 17 Commentary
Paul's statement here is profound. He makes it clear that his concern is not merely receiving financial support (the "gift"), but rather the spiritual blessing and reward that God bestows upon those who generously support His work and His servants (the "fruit that abounds to your account"). This isn't about Paul profiting personally; it's about the Philippians' investment yielding a spiritual return, a concept rooted in Old Testament principles of sowing and reaping (Malachi 3:10, Proverbs 3:9-10). Their financial giving is presented as a spiritual sowing that God Himself will ensure produces an abundant harvest in their lives, credited to their spiritual account. It signifies that every act of faith-filled generosity towards those serving in the ministry is registered by God and will yield righteous results.
- Practical Application: When we give sacrificially to support those who minister the Word, we are not just meeting a need; we are participating in a spiritual economy where our faithful giving is accounted for by God, resulting in abundant spiritual fruit in our own lives.