Quick Definition
I desire preeminence
Strong's Definition
to be fond of being first, i.e. ambitious of distinction
Derivation: from a compound of G5384 (φίλος) and G4413 (πρῶτος);
KJV Usage: love to have the preeminence
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
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: 3Jn_1:9. (Several times in ecclesiastical writings.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
φιλοπρωτεύω philoprōteuō 1x
to love or desire to be first or chief, affect pre-eminence, 3Jn_1:9
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
*† φιλο -πρωτιύω
( < φιλόπρωτος , Plut ., al. ),
to strive to be first: 3Jn_1:9 ( eccl .).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
φιλοπρωτεύω [page 671]
I love the chief place, I desire to be first (3Jn. 1:9) The instance of this verb cited by Deissmann (BS p. 178) from Blass Gr p. 68 is now stated to be erroneous ( LAE 2 , p. 76, n. .1 ), but we can give one or two exx. of the corresponding φιλοπονέω , I love labour, I am industrious P Oxy VII. 1069 .20 (iii/A.D.) τὴν πεδείσκην μου δὲ πρὸ λόγον ἀνάγκασον φιλοπονεῖστε ( l. φιλοπονεῖσθαι ), and 23 , ib. X. 1296 .7 (a son to his father iii/A.D.) φιλοπονοῦμεν καὶ ἀναψύχομεν , καλῶς ἡμε̣[ῖ ]ν ἔσ̣τ̣α̣ι , I am industrious and take relaxation : all will be well with me (Edd.), and P Lond 130 .5 (i/ii A.D.) (= I. p. 133), where a master of astrology, writing to his pupil, recalls that the ancient Egyptians laboriously devoted themselves to the art γ ]νησίως τε περ [ὶ ]τὰ αὐράνια φιλοπονήσαντες .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
φιλοπρωτεύω φι^λο-πρωτεύω, "to strive to be first", NTest.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
φιλο-πρωτιύω
(φιλόπρωτος, Plut., al.)
to strive to be first: III Jn 9 (eccl.).†
(AS)