Philippians 4:17 (DRB)

Passage

Not that I seek the gift: but I seek the fruit that may abound to your account.

Nearby Context

Philippians 4:15 And you also know, O Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only.

Philippians 4:16 For unto Thessalonica also you sent once and again for my use.

Philippians 4:17 Not that I seek the gift: but I seek the fruit that may abound to your account.

Philippians 4:18 But I have all and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things you sent, an odour of sweetness, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:19 And may my God supply all your want, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "seek", "gift", "fruit", "abound", 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 unto Thessalonica also you sent once..." into verse 18's "But I have all and abound I...", 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.