Philippians 2 · Verse 21

Philippians 2:21

For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
Philippians 2:21, King James Version

Philippians 2:21 in other translations

BSBFor all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
WEBFor they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
ASVFor they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
YLTfor the whole seek their own things, not the things of the Christ Jesus,
DARBYFor all seek their own things, not the things of Jesus Christ.
BBEFor they all go after what is theirs, not after the things of Christ.
WebsterFor all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

What does Philippians 2:21 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. For all seek their own. That is, all who are with me. Who Paul had with him at this time is not fully known, but he doubtless means that this remark should apply to the mass of Christians and Christian ministers then in Rome. Perhaps he had proposed to some of them to go and visit the church at Philippi, and they had declined it because of the distance and the dangers of the way. When the trial of Paul came on before the emperor, all who were with him in Rome fled from him, 2Ti 4:16; and it is possible that the same disregard of his wishes and his welfare had already begun to manifest itself among the Christians who were at Rome, so that he was constrained to say that, as a general thing, they sought their own ease and comfort, and were unwilling to deny themselves in order to promote the happiness of those who lived in the remote parts of the world. Let us not be harsh in judging them. How many professing Christians in our cities and towns are there now who would be willing to leave their business and their comfortable homes, and go on an embassy like this to Philippi? How many are there who would not seek some excuse, and show that it was a characteristic that they "sought their own" rather than the things which pertained to the kingdom of Jesus Christ?

Not the things which are Jesus Christ's. Which pertain to his cause and kingdom. They are not willing to practise self-denial in order to promote that cause. It is implied here,

(1.) that it is the duty of those who profess religion to seek the things which pertain to the kingdom of the Redeemer, or to make that the great and leading object of their lives. They are bound to be willing to sacrifice "their own" things--to deny themselves of ease, and to be always ready to expose themselves to peril and want if they may be the means of advancing his cause.

(2.) That frequently this is not done by those who profess religion. It was the case with the professed Christians at Rome, and it is often the case in the churches now. There are few Christians who deny themselves much to promote the kingdom of the Redeemer; few who are willing to lay aside what they regard as "their own" in order to advance his cause. Men live for their own ease; for their families; for the prosecution of their own business--as if a Christian could have anything which he has a right to pursue independently of the kingdom of the Redeemer, and without regard to his will and glory.

(b) "not the things" 2Ti 3:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 For all seek their own - This must relate to the persons who preached Christ even of envy and strife, Phi 1:15; these must be very careless whether souls were saved or not by such preaching; and even those who preached the Gospel out of good will might not be fit for such an embassy as this, which required many sacrifices, and consequently much love and zeal to be able to make them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philippians 2:19-30

It is best with us, when our duty becomes natural to us. Naturally, that is, sincerely, and not in pretence only; with a willing heart and upright views. We are apt to prefer our own credit, ease, and safety, before truth, holiness, and duty; but Timothy did not so. Paul desired liberty, not that he might take pleasure, but that he might do good. Epaphroditus was willing to go to the Philippians, that he might be…

Read the full comment on Philippians 2:19-30 →

Philippians 2:21 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οἱhoiThoseG3588
πάντεςpantesallG3956
γὰρgarforG1063
τὰtathe [things]G3588
ἑαυτῶνhe'autōntheir ownG1438
ζητοῦσιν,zētousinare seeking,G2212
οὐounotG3756
τὰtathe [things]G3588
ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424
Χριστοῦ·Christouof Christ;G5547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Philippians 2:21

  • 1 Corinthians 10:24

    Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:33

    Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

  • Philippians 2:4

    Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:5

    Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

  • 2 Timothy 3:2

    For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

  • Isaiah 56:11

    Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

  • Luke 14:26

    If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

    For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

  • 2 Timothy 4:10

    For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

  • Philippians 1:20-21

    According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:5

    For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
all.
4; Isa 56:11; Mal 1:10; Mt 16:24; Lu 9:57-62; 14:26; Ac 13:13; 15:38
1Co 10:24,33; 13:5; 2Ti 1:15; 3:2; 4:10,16
the.
1:20,21; 2Co 1:5; 5:14,15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Philippians 2:20

    For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

  • Philippians 2:21

    For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

  • Philippians 2:22

    But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

Read all of Philippians 2

Philippians 2:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque todos buscan lo suyo propio, no lo que es de Cristo Jesús.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		parce que tous cherchent leurs propres intérêts, non pas ceux de Jésus Christ.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn alle suchen das Ihrige, nicht das, was Jesu Christi ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Omnes enim quæ sua sunt quærunt, non quæ sunt Jesu Christi.