5383. philopróteuó

Lexicon

philopróteuó: To love to be first; to desire preeminence

Original Word: φιλοπρωτεύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: philopróteuó
Pronunciation: fee-lo-pro-teh-OO-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (fil-op-rote-yoo'-o)
Definition: To love to be first; to desire preeminence
Meaning: I love the chief place, desire preeminence.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

to wish to be first

From a compound of philos and protos; to be fond of being first, i.e. Ambitious of distinction -- love to have the preeminence.

see GREEK philos

see GREEK protos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from a comp. of philos and prótos
Definition
to strive to be first
NASB Translation
loves to be first (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5383: φιλοπρωτεύω

φιλοπρωτεύω; (φιλόπρωτος, fond of being first, striving after the first place; from φίλος and πρῶτος: Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 2, 32; Plutarch (Alcib. 2, 2); mor., p. 471 e. (i. e. de tranquil. an. 12; p. 793 e. i. e. an seni sit etc. 18, 8)); to aspire after pre-eminence, to desire to be first: 3 John 1:9. (Several times in ecclesiastical writings.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from two Greek words: φίλος (philos), meaning "loving" or "fond of," and πρῶτος (prōtos), meaning "first" or "chief."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for φιλοπρωτεύω, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words related to pride and self-exaltation, such as גָּאָה (ga'ah • Strong's Hebrew 1342), meaning "to be proud" or "to rise up," and רָם (ram • Strong's Hebrew 7311), meaning "to be high" or "to be exalted." These terms reflect attitudes of self-importance and the desire for preeminence that are cautioned against in both the Old and New Testaments.

Usage: This term is used in the New Testament to describe an attitude or behavior of seeking to be first or to have dominance over others. It is often associated with a negative connotation of self-promotion or ambition that disrupts community harmony.

Context: • Contextual Analysis: The term φιλοπρωτεύω appears in the New Testament in the context of church leadership and community dynamics. It is used to describe individuals who seek to assert their authority or position above others, often leading to discord and division within the community.
• Biblical Reference: The primary reference for φιλοπρωτεύω is found in 3 John 1:9, where the Apostle John writes, "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us." (BSB) In this passage, Diotrephes is criticized for his desire to have preeminence, which results in his refusal to accept the authority and fellowship of other believers, including the apostolic leadership.
• Theological Implications: The use of φιλοπρωτεύω highlights the dangers of pride and self-centered ambition within the Christian community. It serves as a warning against the pursuit of personal glory at the expense of unity and mutual respect. The term underscores the importance of humility and servant leadership as modeled by Christ.
• Practical Application: Believers are encouraged to examine their motives and attitudes, ensuring that their actions are driven by love and service rather than a desire for recognition or power. Church leaders, in particular, are called to lead with humility, prioritizing the well-being of the community over personal ambition.

Forms and Transliterations

φιλοπρωτευων φιλοπρωτεύων φιλοπρώτευων philoproteuon philoproteúon philoprōteuōn philoprōteúōn

Englishman's Concordance

3 John 1:9 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: ἀλλ' ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρέφης
NAS: but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept
KJV: who loveth to have the preeminence among them,
INT: but who loves to be first among them Diotrephes

Strong's Greek 5383
1 Occurrence

φιλοπρωτεύων — 1 Occ.