Quick Definition
φιλοπρωτεύω v. I desire preeminence
Strong's Definition
from a compound of 5384 and 4413; to be fond of being first, i.e. ambitious of distinction
KJV Usage: love to have the preeminence
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | φιλέω + πρωτεύω
25.110 · Attitudes and Emotions · Enjoy, Take Pleasure In, Be Fond of Doing
to desire to be first, to desire to order others to like or love to be first in rank or position
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
φιλο-πρωτεύω ; (φιλόπρωτος, fond of being first, striving after the first place; fr. φίλος and πρῶτος : Artem. oneir. 2, 32; Plut. [Alcib. 2, 2]; mor. p. 471 6. [1. 6. de tranquil. an. 12; p. 793 e. i. e. an seni sit ete. 18, 8]); to aspire after pre-eminence, to desire to be first: 3 Jn. 9. (Several times in eccles. writ.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
φιλοπρωτεύω philoprōteuō 1x
to love or desire to be first or chief, affect pre-eminence, 3 Jn. 9*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
*† φιλοπρωτεύω
(< φιλόπρωτος, Plut., al.)
to strive to be first: III Jo 9 (eccl.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
φιλοπρωτεύω, “1 love the chief place,’”’ “1 desire to be first” (3 Jn®). The instance of this verb cited by Deissmann (ZS p. 178) from Blass G7 p. 68 is now stated to be erroneous (LA Z?, p- 76, n.1), but we can give one or two exx. of the corresponding φιλοπονέω, “1 love labour,” “1 am industrious” —P Oxy VII. 1069*° (iii/a.D.) τὴν πεδείσκην pov δὲ mpd λόγον ἀνάγκασον φιλοπονεῖστε (/. φιλοπονεῖσθαι), and 53, τό. X. 12967 (a son to his father—iii/a.D.) φιλοπονοῦμεν καὶ ἀναψύχομεν, καλῶς ἡμεῖτ]ν ἔσται, “I am industrious and take relaxation: all will be well with me’’ (Edd.), and P Lond 130° (i/ii a.p.) (=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] τὰ οὐράνια φιλοπονήσαντες.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
φιλοπρωτεύω (philoprōteuō) — to love to be first. φῐλοπρωτ-εύω, wish or strive to be first, [NT]