Philippians 2:21

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 grave disappointments where he had a special right to expect ready help. Demas (2 Timothy 4:10) had his precursors; indeed he may have been included in this censure, for he was at Rome about this time (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24). But we must not assume that St Paul here (or even 2 Timothy 4:10) excommunicates, so to speak, those whom he refers to; the true disciple may have his weak, because faithless and selfish, hour. See Acts 13:13, with Acts 15:38, and contrast 2 Timothy 4:11. And again common sense bids us interpret the "they all" with a reserve. He must mean not "all the Christians around me," but "all the possible Christian messengers around me." "The saints of Cæsar's household" (Philippians 4:22), for example, could not be in question; nor was Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25, &c).

seek their own] things, literally; their own ease or safety; perhaps their own preferences in toil and duty. See 1 Corinthians 13:5 for the opposite choice as the choice of holy Charity.

thethings which are Jesus Christ's The interests of His disciples laid upon them by His Apostle.