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Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Philippians 2:21

Philippians 2:21. For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. We find other times in St. Paul's life when this bitter sense came upon him. So when he writes (2 Timothy 4:10-11), ‘Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world... only Luke is with me.' In the ‘things of Jesus Christ' we must not only understand all that is connected with the preaching and advancement of the Gospel, but such matters also as most nearly concerned the apostle himself, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, as he elsewhere calls himself. In this we can see the reason why, till the course which events would take was better known, he could not suffer Timothy to leave him.

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See also Philippians 2:21 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 21. _FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN_] This must relate to the persons who _preached Christ even of envy and strife_, Philippians 1:15; these must be very careless whether souls were saved or not by suc...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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 Christi...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    II. CHRIST, THE BELIEVER'S PATTERN CHAPTER 2 _ 1. Oneness of mind through self effacement (Philippians 2:1)_ 2. The humiliation and exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:5) 3. Work out your own salva...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PHP_2:19-30. TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS. Paul proposes to send Timothy in advance of his own expected visit, that he may obtain encouraging news about them. There is no one else to send, the others bein...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE CAUSES OF DISUNITY (Php_2:1-4)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    I hope in the Lord Jesus soon to send Timothy to you, that I may find out how things are going with you and take heart. I have no one with a mind equal to his, for he is the kind of man who will genui...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _all_ The Greek would be more exactly represented by THEY ALL, or ALL OF THEM; all of a definite group in question. This is a severe censure on the persons really indicated. St Paul must have suffered...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    HE PROPOSES SOON TO SEND TIMOTHEUS: HE SENDS WITHOUT DELAY EPAPHRODITUS...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΤᾺ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ͂ ἸΗΣΟΥ͂. So (without τοῦ before Χ. Ἰ.) all uncials, many cursives, Clem and many other fathers. Many cursives, Chrys (but not consistently) Theodoret τὰ τοῦ. ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ͂ ἸΗΣΟΥ͂. So BL, most c...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΆΝΤΕΣ _пот. pl. от_ ΠΆΣ (G3956) весь. Артикль с _adj._ указывает на всех без исключений (Lohmeyer; RG, 773f). ΤΆ ΕΑΥΤΏΝ (G1438) их собственные вещи. Это противопоставление тому, что принадлежит Иису...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2150 THE SELFISHNESS OF MAN Philippians 2:21. _All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s_. CANDOUR is a virtue that should be held in the highest estimation: but, if pres...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN,— It can hardly be supposed that St. Paul intended here absolutely to tax every one of those who were about him, and assisted him in preaching the gospel, with an utter neglect...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    OUTLINE OF 2:19-30 E. News about Timothy and Epaphroditus; Philippians 2:19-30 1. Timothy; Philippians 2:19-24 a. Paul hoped to send Timothy to them; Philippians

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. [ Hoi (G3588) pantes (G3956)] 'They all' (namely, who are now with me, and are eligible for the mission, Philippians 4:21: such Dema...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    _ THE LIVING EXAMPLES_ 19 The word soul has lost its significance in English, especially in its compounds, hence we render idiomatically "good cheer," for "well souled" and "equally sensitive" for "e...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LETTER OF JOY Paul’s Letter to the Philippians _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 2 PAUL’S APPEAL FOR UNITY AND *HUMILITY 2:1-4 V1 You are united with Christ and that encourages you. You know the comfort of...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    [5. Exhortation and Commendation (Philippians 2:12). (1) EXHORTATION TO WORK OUT THEIR SALVATION through the in working of God, and so to be lights in the world, and the glory of the Apostle, even i...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (19-24) St. Paul takes occasion of a promise to send Timothy shortly, to give an emphatic commendation of him, and adds a hope that he may soon come to Philippi himself....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN, NOT THE THINGS WHICH ARE JESUS CHRIST’S. — Compare our Lord’s words, “Ye shall be scattered every man to his own (things), and shall leave Me alone” (John 16:32). St. Paul’s de...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 9 TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS. Philippians 2:19 (R.V.) THE outpouring of his thoughts, his feelings, and his desires towards the Philippians has so far spent itself. Now he turns to mention the...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    HIS PURPOSE TO SEND TO THEM TIMOTHY, A GENUINE FRIEND OF THEIR COMMUNITY....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    οἱ πάντες … ζητ. This verse has roused surprise. Where were all Paul's faithful brethren in the Lord? Has he no one but Timothy to fall back upon? It must be borne in mind that we have to do with a si...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    HONORING CHRISTIAN MESSENGERS Philippians 2:19 The Apostle nobly honored the younger men who wrought with him. He speaks of Timothy as his son, and expatiates on the genuineness of his loving interes...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The apostle now urged those to whom he wrote to fill his joy to the full. In order to do this he indicated two causative facts which suggested two resulting experiences, and then referred to conduct i...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    TIMOTHY Paul was able to broaden his service to the various churches by sending faithful messengers to them. He hoped it would be the Lord's will that Timothy could soon be sent to check on the welfar...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    For (r) all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. (r) The most part....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _All seek the things that are their own; i.e. many do so. (Witham)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (14) В¶ Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    There is no epistle in the New Testament which gives so little space to the development of. doctrine as this to the Philippians. Need it be said that it has not the less its own proper office on that...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    21_For all seek their own things_. He does not speak of those who had openly abandoned the pursuit of piety, but of those very persons whom he reckoned brethren, nay, even those whom he admitted to fa...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But this, too, produced its effects. The apostle desired that their joy should be full, and that unity among the Philippians should be perfect; for his absence had allowed some seeds of disunion and d...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN,.... Meaning not every individual, but the greatest part; and not merely such as were manifestly false teachers, but such as were with the apostle, as ministers of the word; and...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. Ver. 21. _For all seek their own_] If it were so then, what wonder if now, as was so long since foretold, 2 Timothy 3:2. Self must be...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But I trust in the Lord_, &c. Though I should not be surprised if my work and testimony as an apostle should end in martyrdom, yet I do not immediately expect such an event, but trust that the Lord w...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    ALL; apparently spoken of those then in attendance on Paul. SEEK THEIR OWN; selfishness is natural to all, and Paul's companions, though Christians, were only partially delivered from it. All men nat...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN, NOT THE THINGS WHICH ARE JESUS CHRIST'S....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    RECOMMENDATION OF TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS. Paul's reason and object in sending Timothy:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    In the first chapter we have seen that Christ is the very principle of life that motivates the apostle in whatever circumstances, - and so indeed it should be for all believers. Chapter 2 now brings C...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    A Priceless Pair 1 Peter 2:19-30 1. KEY WORDS 19 Trust, comfort, state 20 Likeminded, naturally, care 21 Seek, own, things of Christ 22 Proof, served, gospel 23 Hope, soon 24 Trust, shortly 2...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    “FOR THEY ALL SEEK THEIR OWN, NOT THE THINGS OF JESUS CHRIST” “For they all seek their own”: “They are all pursuing their own aims” (TCNT). “Everyone else seems to be worrying about his own plans” (T...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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, ea...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    He doth here further commend Timothy, compared with the generality of those who with him did attend the ministry of the gospel at Rome, where it seems (whatever the papists pretend) Peter did not then...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews For our conversation is in heaven, whence also we expect the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall transform the body of our humil...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Php_2:21 For G1063 all G3956 seek G2212 (G5719) own G1438 not G3756 are G3588 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 all - Php_2:4;...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.' That this phrase is not to be applied too widely comes out in what he goes on to say about Epaphroditus, nevertheless it reveals a sad st...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL NOW GIVES TWO EXAMPLES OF MEN WHO, LIKE HIMSELF, HAVE THE MIND THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS (PHILIPPIANS 2:19 TO PHILIPPIANS 3:1). Having expressed his own willingness to be ‘poured out as a libation'...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PROMISE TO SEND TIMOTHY, A PRIME EXAMPLE OF A TRUE SERVANT (PHILIPPIANS 2:19). Paul's first example is of Timothy, the true servant, who is like-minded to Paul (or to Jesus Christ), in contrast wi...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THEY ALL (ο παντες). "The whole of them." Surely Luke was away from Rome at this juncture....

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Philippians 2:21 The Life of Christ the Only True Idea of Self-devotion. There is something peculiarly touching in the saddened tone of these few words, in which St. Paul glances at the slackness of...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Philippians 2:20 I. In these and like passages of the Epistles of St. Paul written subsequently to his imprisonment, we may trace signs of one of the many trials of the Apostle's life; and it is one w...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Christ, the believer's pattern, rejoicing in lowly service. The outworking of inworked salvation. The apostolic example. CHARACTERS: Christ, Holy Spirit, God, Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus. C...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Philippians 2:1. _If there be therefore any consolation in Christ._ Brethren who are joined in the Lord, professing the same faith, and despised of the world, are expected to comfort and encourage one...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    EVERYONE ELSE. Paul does not mean his associates, if any are with him. _MacKnight_ says: _"For all_ the teachers here _seek their own_ pleasure and profit, and _not the things belonging to Christ Jesu...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _For all seek their own _ SELF-SEEKING I. Its signs. II. Its causes. III. Its evils. IV. Its cure. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) THE EVIL OF SELF-SEEKING I. Things of a different sort spoken of. 1. Their...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _For I have no man like minded _ THE CARE OF A GOOD PASTOR FOR HIS PEOPLE I. Every good minister feels a tender concern for the good of his people. Every good minister is-- 1. A good man; and there...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly _ CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP I. Is founded in the faith of Christ. II. Concerns itself for the state of others. III. Is unselfish. IV. Is proved by...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PHILIPPIANS—NOTE ON PHILIPPIANS 2:1 Encouragement to Humble Service. Paul calls the Philippians to unite in love and humility (vv. Philippians 2:1), following

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PHILIPPIANS—NOTE ON PHILIPPIANS 2:19 TIMOTHY follows Christ in that he is CONCERNED FOR the Philippians’ WELFARE....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Philippians 2:20. NO MAN LIKEMINDED.—A.V. margin, “so dear unto me,” evidently because the same word is used in Psalms 55:13. “Likeminded” with whom? “With me,” says M...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PHILIPPIANS 2:1 IF THERE BE THEREFORE, ANY CONSOLATION IN CHRIST. Mark the fervor of the apostle. Ὅρα πῶς λιπαρῶς πῶς σφοδρῶς πῶς μετὰ συμπαωείας πολλῆς (Chrysostom). He appeals...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if [there is] any comfort of love, if [there is] any fellowship of the Spirit, if [there is] any bowels [compassion] and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, tha...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 10:24; 1 Corinthians 10:33; 1 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Corinthians 1:5;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    All [ο ι π α ν τ ε ς]. The all; that is, one and all. The expression, however, must have limitations, since it cannot include those spoken of in ch. 1 14, Philippians 2:1 7It probably means, all exce...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    HOW CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE Philippians 2:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We were told that when Minister Wu, of China, was addressing an American audience in Washington, D. C., upon comparative religions, he s...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    For all — But Timotheus. Seek their own — Ease, safety, pleasure, or profit. Amazing! In that golden age of the church, could St. Paul throughly approve of one only, among all the labourers that were...

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Old Testament