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New Living Translation

Philippians 4:17

I don't say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Beneficence;   Church;   Minister, Christian;   Philippi;   Unselfishness;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Fruit Test;   Fruit, Spiritual;   Fruitfulness;   Fruitfulness-Unfruitfulness;   Test, Fruit;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fruits;   Love to Man;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Fellowship;   Giving;   Mission;   Philippi;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Friend, Friendship;   Wealth;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Epaphroditus;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Macedonia;   Philippians, the Epistle to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Fruit;   Mission(s);   Philippians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Philippians, Epistle to;   Quotations;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abounding;   Account;   Debt, Debtor;   Philippians Epistle to the;   Sacrifice (2);   Tithes ;   Word;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fruit;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Philippi;   Philippians, the Epistle to;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for February 14;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.
King James Version (1611)
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
King James Version
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
English Standard Version
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
New American Standard Bible
Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the profit which increases to your account.
New Century Version
Really, it is not that I want to receive gifts from you, but I want you to have the good that comes from giving.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.
Legacy Standard Bible
Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the fruit which increases to your account.
Berean Standard Bible
Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.
Contemporary English Version
I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving.
Complete Jewish Bible
I am not seeking the gift; rather, I am looking for what will increase the credit balance of your account.
Darby Translation
Not that I seek gift, but I seek fruit abounding to your account.
Easy-to-Read Version
Really, it is not that I want to get gifts from you. But I want you to have the benefit that comes from giving.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Not that I desire a gift: but I desire the fruit which may further your reckoning.
George Lamsa Translation
I do not say this because I want a gift, but because I want to see the fruits of the gospel increased to you.
Good News Translation
It is not that I just want to receive gifts; rather, I want to see profit added to your account.
Lexham English Bible
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek for the profit that increases to your account.
Literal Translation
Not that I seek a gift, but I seek the fruit multiplying to your account.
Amplified Bible
Not that I seek the gift itself, but I do seek the profit which increases to your [heavenly] account [the blessing which is accumulating for you].
American Standard Version
Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account.
Bible in Basic English
Not that I am looking for an offering, but for fruit which may be put to your credit.
Hebrew Names Version
Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
International Standard Version
It is not that I am looking for a gift. No, I am looking for the profit that accumulates to your account.Romans 15:28; Titus 3:14;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Not because I seek the gift, but I seek that fruit may multiply unto you.
Murdock Translation
Not that I desire a gift; but I wish fruits may multiply unto you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Not that I desire a gyft, but I desire fruite aboundyng to your accompt.
English Revised Version
Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account.
World English Bible
Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Not that I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Weymouth's New Testament
Not that I crave for gifts from you, but I do want to see abundant fruit bring you honour.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Not for Y seke yifte, but Y requyre fruyt aboundinge in youre resoun.
Update Bible Version
Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
Webster's Bible Translation
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
New English Translation
I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account.
New King James Version
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
New Life Bible
It is not that I want to receive the gift. I want you to get the pay that is coming to you later.
New Revised Standard
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Not that I seek after the gift, but I seek after the fruit that is to abound unto your account.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Not that I seek the gift: but I seek the fruit that may abound to your account.
Revised Standard Version
Not that I seek the gift; but I seek the fruit which increases to your credit.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
not that I desyre gyftes: but I desyre aboudant frute on youre parte.
Young's Literal Translation
not that I seek after the gift, but I seek after the fruit that is overflowing to your account;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Not that I seke giftes, but I seke the frute, that it be abudaunt in yor rekenynge.
Mace New Testament (1729)
not that I desire a present; but what I desire is, that the fruits of your liberality may greatly redound to your own account.
Simplified Cowboy Version
I'm not bringing this up so y'all can send some more. I want y'all to be rewarded for what you've already done.

Contextual Overview

10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn't have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. 15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don't say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. 18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

because: Philippians 4:11, Malachi 1:10, Acts 20:33, Acts 20:34, 1 Corinthians 9:12-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:10, Titus 1:7, 1 Peter 5:2, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11

fruit: Philippians 1:11, Micah 7:1, John 15:8, John 15:16, Romans 15:28, 2 Corinthians 9:9-13, Titus 3:14

to: Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 10:40-42, Matthew 25:34-40, Luke 14:12-14, Hebrews 6:10

Reciprocal: Exodus 36:5 - General Proverbs 3:9 - General Proverbs 11:17 - merciful Proverbs 31:31 - of the Isaiah 23:18 - for them Matthew 13:23 - beareth Luke 6:38 - and it Luke 10:7 - for Luke 13:6 - and he came John 15:5 - same Acts 16:34 - when Acts 20:35 - It is Romans 1:13 - that I Romans 6:22 - ye have Romans 7:4 - that we 1 Corinthians 15:58 - abounding 2 Corinthians 8:10 - expedient 2 Corinthians 9:10 - multiply 2 Corinthians 12:14 - for I Colossians 1:6 - bringeth

Cross-References

Genesis 4:4
Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
Genesis 4:11
Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother's blood.
Genesis 5:18
When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch.
Genesis 5:22
After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world."
2 Samuel 18:18
During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to carry on my name." He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom's Monument to this day.
Psalms 49:11
The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves,
Daniel 4:30
As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Not because I desire a gift,.... This commendation of them he entered into, not because he desired another present to be made to him, either by them or others; he was not a man of such a disposition, he was not like one of those that could never have enough; he was fully satisfied and highly contented with what he had; he was not like the false teachers, that made merchandise of men; he sought not theirs, but them:

but I desire fruit that may abound to your account; he had planted them, or had been an instrument in planting of them, as trees of righteousness, Isaiah 61:3; and his great desire was to see fruits of righteousness grow upon them, Philippians 1:11; by which sometimes are meant acts of beneficence, as in 2 Corinthians 9:10; and that these might be abundant and turn to their profit and advantage, as such fruit does; for God does not forget to recompence acts of bounty, and labours of love, but if even a cup of cold water is given to a prophet or minister of Christ, on account of his being so, it shall have its reward in the issue of things, upon the casting up of accounts, Matthew 10:42; for the apostle still has reference unto that; his view was, that the balance might be on their side, and that much might be received by them; so that it was not for himself, but for their encouragement and future good, he said this; for as for himself he adds,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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. It showed that they were governed by Christian principle, and this would not fall to be rewarded. What Paul states here is by no means impossible; though it may not be very common. In the reception of layouts from others, it is practicable to rejoice in them mainly, because their bestowment will be a means of good to the benefactor himself. All our selfish feelings and gratifications may be absorbed and lost in the superior joy which we have in seeing others actuated by a right spirit, and in the belief that they will be rewarded. This feeling is one of the fruits of Christian kindness. It is that which leads us to look away from self, and to rejoice in every evidence that others will be made happy.

I desire fruit - The word “fruit” is often used in the Scriptures, as elsewhere, to denote results, or that which is produced. Thus, we speak of punishment as the fruit of sin, poverty as the fruit of idleness, and happiness as the fruit of a virtuous life. The language is taken from the fact, that a man reaps or gathers the fruit or result of that which he plants.

To your account - A phrase taken from commercial dealings. The apostle wished that it might be set down to their credit. He desired that when they came to appear before God, they might reap the benefit of all the acts of kindness which they had shown him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. 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.


 
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