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Friday, November 29th, 2024
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Philippians 2:4

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Humility;   Self-Denial;   Selfishness;   Unselfishness;   Scofield Reference Index - Life;   Thompson Chain Reference - Self-Sacrifice;   Selfishness-Unselfishness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Love to Man;   Self-Denial;   Selfishness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Disciple;   Justice;   Love;   Meekness;   Paul;   Philippians, letter to the;   Wealth;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Baptize, Baptism;   Disciple, Discipleship;   Discipline;   Marriage;   Spirituality;   Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Peter, the Epistles of;   Philippi;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Fellowship;   Humility;   Kenosis;   Marriage;   Paul;   Philippians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Conscience;   Philippians, Epistle to;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Brotherhood (2);   Brotherly Love;   Ethics;   Humility ;   Justice (2);   Murmuring;   Philippians Epistle to the;   Socialism;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Humility;   Look;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 15;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 2;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Don't be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.
Revised Standard Version
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and that no man consyder his awne but what is mete for other.
Hebrew Names Version
each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
New American Standard Bible
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
New Century Version
Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.
Update Bible Version
each of you not looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
Webster's Bible Translation
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
English Standard Version
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
World English Bible
each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Look not every one at his own things, but every one also at the things of others.
Weymouth's New Testament
each fixing his attention, not simply on his own interests, but on those of others also.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
not biholdinge ech bi hym silf what thingis ben his owne, but tho thingis that ben of othere men.
English Revised Version
not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
Berean Standard Bible
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Contemporary English Version
Care about them as much as you care about yourselves
American Standard Version
not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
Bible in Basic English
Not looking everyone to his private good, but keeping in mind the things of others.
Complete Jewish Bible
look out for each other's interests and not just for your own.
Darby Translation
regarding not each his own [qualities], but each those of others also.
International Standard Version
Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned aboutbe concerned about">[fn] the interests of others.1 Corinthians 10:24,33; 13:5;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And let no one care for himself (only), but every one for his neighbour also.
Murdock Translation
And let not each be solicitous [fn] for himself, but every one also for his neighbor.
King James Version (1611)
Looke not euery man on his owne things, but euery man also on the things of others.
New Living Translation
Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
New Life Bible
Do not always be thinking about your own plans only. Be happy to know what other people are doing.
New Revised Standard
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Looke not euery man on his owne things, but euery man also on the things of other men.
George Lamsa Translation
Let no one be mindful only of his own things, but let every one be mindful of the things of his neighbor also.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Not, to your own things, severally looking, but, to the things of others, severally: -
Douay-Rheims Bible
Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men’s.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Loke not euery man on his owne thynges, but euery man also on the thynges of others.
Good News Translation
And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own.
Christian Standard Bible®
Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
King James Version
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Lexham English Bible
each of you not looking out for your own interests, but also each of you for the interests of others.
Literal Translation
each not looking at the things of themselves, but each also the things of others.
Young's Literal Translation
each not to your own look ye, but each also to the things of others.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and let euery ma loke not for his awne profet, but for the profet of other.
Mace New Testament (1729)
let no man consult only his private interest, but let every man consult likewise the interest of others.
New English Translation
Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.
New King James Version
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Look out for others, not yourself.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Legacy Standard Bible
not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Contextual Overview

1Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]. 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. 4Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.5Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], 6who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; 7but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. 8After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Matthew 18:6, Romans 12:15, Romans 14:19-22, Romans 15:1, 1 Corinthians 8:9-13, 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 10:32, 1 Corinthians 10:33, 1 Corinthians 12:22-26, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 6:3, 2 Corinthians 11:29, James 2:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 32:6 - shall ye sit here Joshua 1:15 - Until 2 Kings 7:9 - this day Esther 2:22 - Mordecai's name Esther 4:5 - to know Matthew 20:28 - came Romans 15:2 - General Romans 15:5 - according to 1 Corinthians 11:1 - even Galatians 6:12 - as desire Philippians 2:21 - all 3 John 1:2 - that

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:4
God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it; and God separated the light [distinguishing it] from the darkness.
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth."
Genesis 1:31
God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
Genesis 2:1
So the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts (inhabitants).
Genesis 2:2
And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
Genesis 5:1
This is the book (the written record, the history) of the generations of [the descendants of] Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness].
Genesis 10:1
These are the records of the generations (descendants) of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and the sons born to them after the flood:
Genesis 11:10
These are the records of the generations of Shem [from whom Abraham descended]. Shem was a hundred years old when he became the father of Arpachshad, two years after the flood.
Genesis 25:12
Now these are the records of the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's maid, bore to Abraham;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Look, not every man on his own things,.... Not but that a man should take care of his worldly affairs, and look well unto them, and provide things honest in the sight of all men, for himself and his family, otherwise he would be worse than an infidel; but he is not to seek his own private advantage, and prefer it to a public good; accordingly the Syriac version reads it, "neither let anyone be careful of himself, but also everyone of his neighbour"; and the Arabic version thus, "and let none of you look to that which conduces to himself alone, but let everyone of you look to those things which may conduce to his friend"; but this respects spiritual things, and spiritual gifts: a Christian should not seek his own honour and applause, and to have his own will, and a point in a church carried his own way, but should consult the honour of Christ, the good of others, and the peace of the church; he should not look upon his own gifts, he may look upon them, and ascribe them to the grace of God, and make use of them to his glory, but not to admire them, or himself for them, and pride himself in them, and lift up himself above others, neglecting and taking no notice of the superior abilities of others:

but every man also on the things of others; not on their worldly things, busying himself with other men's matters, and which he has nothing to do with, but on the sentiments and reasons of others; which he should well weigh and consider, and if they outdo and overbalance his own, should yield unto them; he should take notice of the superior gifts of others, and own and acknowledge them; which is the way to submit to one another in the fear of God, and to promote truth, friendship, and love.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Look not every man on his own things - That is, be not selfish. Do not let your care and attention be wholly absorbed by your own concerns, or by the concerns of your own family. Evince a tender interest for the happiness of the whole, and let the welfare of others lie near your hearts. This, of course, does not mean that there is to be any improper interference in the business of others, or that we are to have the character of “busy-bodies in other people’s matters” (compare the 2 Thessalonians 3:11, note; 1 Timothy 5:13, note; 1 Peter 4:15, note); but that we are to regard with appropriate solicitude the welfare of others, and to strive to do them good.

But every man also on the things of others - It is the duty of every man to do this. No one is at liberty to live for himself or to disregard the wants of others. The object of this rule is to break up the narrow spirit of selfishness, and to produce a benevolent regard for the happiness of others. In respect to the rule we may observe:

(1) We are not to be “busybodies” in the concerns of others; see the references above. We are not to attempt to pry into their secret purposes. Every man has his own plans, and thoughts, and intentions, which no other one has a right to look into. Nothing is more odious than a meddler in the concerns of others.

(2) We are not to obtrude our advice where it is not sought, or at unseasonable times and places, even if the advice is in itself good. No one likes to be interrupted to hear advice; and I have no right to require that he should suspend his business in order that I may give him counsel.

(3) We are not to find fault with what pertains exclusively to him. We are to remember that there are some things which are his business, not ours; and we are to learn to “possess our souls in patience,” if he does not give just as much as we think be ought to benevolent objects, or if he dresses in a manner not to please our taste, or if he indulges in things which do not accord exactly with our views. He may see reasons for his conduct which we do not; and it is possible that be may be right, and that, if we understood the whole case, we should think and act as he does. We often complain of a man because be does not give as much as we think he ought, to objects of charity; and it is possible that he may be miserably niggardly and narrow. But it is also possible that he may be more embarrassed than we know of; or that he may just then have demands against him of which we are ignorant; or that he may have numerous poor relatives dependent on him; or that he gives much with “the left hand” which is not known by “the right hand.” At any rate, it is his business, not ours; and we are not qualified to judge until we understand the whole case.

(4) We are not to be gossips about the concerns of others. We are not to hunt up small stories, and petty scandals respecting their families; we are not to pry into domestic affairs, and divulge them abroad, and find pleasure in circulating snell things from house to house. There are domestic secrets, which are not to be betrayed; and there is scarcely an offence of a meaner or more injurious character than to divulge to the public what we have seen a family whose hospitality we have enjoyed.

(5) Where Christian duty and kindness require us to look into the concerns of others, there should be the utmost delicacy. Even children have their own secrets, and their own plans and amusements, on a small scale, quite as important to them as the greater games which we are playing in life; and they will feel the meddlesomeness of a busybody to be as odious to them as we should in our plans. A delicate parent, therefore, who has undoubtedly a right to know all about his children, will not rudely intrude into their privacies, or meddle with their concerns. So, when we visit the sick, while we show a tender sympathy for them, we should not be too particular in inquiring into their maladies or their feelings. So, when those with whom we sympathize have brought their calamities on themselves by their own fault, we should not ask too many questions about it. We should not too closely examine one who is made poor by intemperance, or who is in prison for crime. And so, when we go to sympathize with those who have been, by a reverse of circumstances, reduced from affluence to penury, we should not ask too many questions. We should let them tell their own story. If they voluntarily make us their confidants, and tell us all about their circumstances, it is well; but let us not drag out the circumstances, or wound their feelings by our impertinent inquiries, or our indiscreet sympathy in their affairs. There are always secrets which the sons and daughters of misfortune would wish to keep to themselves.

However, while these things are true, it is also true that the rule before us positively requires us to show an interest in the concerns of others; and it may be regarded as implying the following things:

(1) We are to feel that the spiritual interests of everyone in the church is, in a certain sense, our own interest. The church is one. It is confederated together for a common object. Each one is entrusted with a portion of the honor of the whole, and the conduct of one member affects the character of all. We are, therefore, to promote, in every way possible, the welfare of every other member of the church. If they go astray, we are to admonish and entreat them; if they are in error, we are to instruct them; if they are in trouble, we are to aid them. Every member of the church has a claim on the sympathy of his brethren, and should be certain of always finding it when his circumstances are such as to demand it.

(2) There are circumstances where it is proper to look with special interest on the temporal concerns of others. It is when the poor, the fatherless, and the afflicted must be sought out in order to be aided and relieved. They are too retiring and modest to press their situation on the attention of others, and they need that others should manifest a generous care in their welfare in order to relieve them. This is not improper interference in their concerns, nor will it be so regarded.

(3) For a similar reason, we should seek the welfare of all others in a spiritual sense. We should seek to arouse the sinner, and lead him to the Saviour. He is blind, and will not come himself; unconcerned, and will not seek salvation; filled with the love of this world, and will not seek a better; devoted to pursuits that will lead him to ruin, and he ought to be apprised of it. It is no more an improper interference in his concerns to apprise him of his condition, and to attempt to lead him to the Saviour, than it is to warn a man in a dark night, who walks on the verge of a precipice, of his peril; or to arouse one from sleep whose house is in flames. In like manner, it is no more meddling with the concerns of another to tell him that there is a glorious heaven which may be his, than it is to apprise a man that there is a mine of golden ore on his farm. It is for the man’s own interest, and it is the office of a friend to remind him of these things. He does a man a favor who tells him that he has a Redeemer, and that there is a heaven to which he may rise; he does his neighbor the greatest possible kindness who apprises him that there is a world of infinite woe, and tells him of an easy way by which he may escape it. The world around is dependant on the church of Christ to be apprised of these truths. The frivolous ones will not warn the fools of their danger; the crowd that presses to the theater or the ballroom will not apprise those who are there that they are in the broad way to hell; and everyone who loves his neighbor, should feel sufficient interest in him to tell him that he may be eternally happy in heaven.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Philippians 2:4. Look not every man on his own things — Do nothing through self-interest in the things of God; nor arrogate to yourselves gifts, graces, and fruits, which belong to others; ye are all called to promote God's glory and the salvation of men. Labour for this, and every one shall receive the honour that comes from God; and let each rejoice to see another, whom God may be pleased to use in a special way, acquiring much reputation by the successful application of his talents to the great work.


 
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