Philippians 4:17 (DBY)

Passage

Not that I seek gift, but I seek fruit abounding to your account.

Nearby Context

Philippians 4:15 And know also *ye*, O Philippians, that in [the] beginning of the gospel, when I came out of Macedonia, no assembly communicated [anything] to me in [the] way of giving and receiving save *ye* alone;

Philippians 4:16 for also in Thessalonica once and even twice ye sent to me for my need.

Philippians 4:17 Not that I seek gift, but I seek fruit abounding to your account.

Philippians 4:18 But I have all things in full supply and abound; I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things [sent] from you, an odour of sweet savour, an acceptable sacrifice, agreeable to God.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall abundantly supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "seek", "gift", "fruit", "abounding", and "account". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "seek" and "gift", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "for also in Thessalonica once and even..." into verse 18's "But I have all things in full...", so "seek" and "gift" belong inside that flow. In Philippians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "seek" and "gift" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.