Philippians 4:17 (WEB)

Passage

Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.

Nearby Context

Philippians 4:15 You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.

Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.

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

Philippians 4:18 But I have all things, and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.

Philippians 4:19 My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Study Lenses

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