“Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”
Not that I desire gifts, but I desire the increase of your account — Paul's focus is not his need but their spiritual 'account' (opsonion, soldier's pay, payment). The economic metaphor is transformed: their giving is an investment in their eschatological credit. 'Increase' (pleonazō, abound, multiply) suggests compound interest in heaven. He cares for their spiritual wealth more than material relief.
Church Fathers on Philippians 4:17
“Not that I seek for the gift.” As he said above, “Not that I speak in respect of want”; that is stronger than this. For it is one thing, that he who is in want, should not seek, and another that he who is in want should not even consider himself to be in want. “Not that I seek for the gift,” he says, “but I seek for the fruit, that increases to your account.” Not my own. Do you see, that the fruit is produced for them? This say I for your sake, says he, not for my own, for…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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