Thursday, June 16, 2005

Philippians 2:21

Textus Receptus:
οι παντες γαρ τα εαυτων ζητουσιν ου τα του χριστου ιησου

King James:
For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

Comments:
seek their own: Paul is contrasting the behavior of those who fall short of Timothy's care with those who would be obedient to the imperative he gives in verse 4, to look not on the things of self but the things of others.

things which are Jesus Christ's: Since this description is parallel to verse 4's command, but the suggested alternative in verse 4 (the things of others) is replaced here by the things which are Jesus Christ's, then it seems obvious that the way to care for Christ is to care for others, a teaching not incompatible with 1 John 4:20.

Expanded Paraphrase:
What the others lack is a genuine concern for the things of Jesus Christ. They are too busy searching for the things that will benefit themselves.

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