Profit
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]
Two Gr. words are so rendered: (1) ὠφελέω, to further, help, profit : Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 ‘profit,’ Matthew 15:5 (= Mark 7:11) 16:26 (= Mark 8:36, Luke 9:25 Authorized Version ‘advantage’), John 6:63; ‘prevail,’ Matthew 27:24, John 12:19; ‘be bettered,’ Mark 5:26; (2) συμφἐρω, to bear or bring together ; ‘be profitable,’ Matthew 5:29-30; Matthew 18:6; ‘be expedient,’ Matthew 19:10 (Authorized Version ‘good’), John 11:50; John 18:14; John 16:7.
The address of Jesus is, for the most part, to the highest in human nature; but sometimes a less heroic note is struck, and there is direct appeal to the instinctive impulses of self-regard and self-preservation, and to the instincts of gain and the anxieties of the balance-sheet. The analogy of profitable trading gives force to the parables of the Talents and the Pounds ( Matthew 25:14 ff., Luke 19:12 ff.), but in one great saying the appeal to what may be termed the business instincts is direct: ‘What shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?’ Matthew 16:26 (= Mark 8:36, Luke 9:25). Here the terms of commerce are used, and the ‘balance-sheet of the soul’ (Morison) is struck. With this we may compare Plato’s words: ‘What will anyone be profited if under the influence of honour or money or power, aye, or under the excitement of poetry, he neglect justice and virtue?’ (see Jowett’s Plato , iii. 505).
This weighing of advantages and gain finds its full force in Christ’s doctrine of the supreme good of the Kingdom of God, the one secure treasure of unspeakable value, for the possession of which all other treasures may well be given in exchange ( Matthew 13:44-46).
W. H. Dyson.
King James Dictionary [2]
PROF'IT, n. L. profectus, proficio, to profit, literally to proceed forward, to advance pro and facio. The primary sense of facio is to urge or drive.
1. In commerce, the advance in the price of goods sold beyond the cost of purchase. Net profit is the gain made by selling goods at an advanced price or a price beyond what they had cost the seller, and beyond all costs and charges. The profit of the farmer and the manufacturer is the gain made by the sale of produce or manufactures, after deducting the value of the labor, materials, rents and all expenses, together with the interest of the capital employed, whether land, machinery, buildings, instruments or money.
Let no man anticipate uncertain profits.
2. Any gain or pecuniary advantage as an office of profit or honor. 3. Any advantage any accession of good from labor or exertion an extensive signification, comprehending the acquisition of any thing valuable, corporeal or intellectual, temporal or spiritual. A person may derive profit from exercise, amusements, reading, study, meditation, social intercourse, religious instruction, &c. Every improvement or advance in knowledge is profit to a wise man.
PROF'IT,
1. To benefit to advantage applied to one's self, to derive some pecuniary interest or some accession of good from any thing as, to profit one's self by a commercial undertaking, or by reading or instruction. In this sense, the verb is generally used intransitively. Applied to others, to communicate good to to advance the interest of.
Brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues,what shall I profit you? 1 Corinthians 14
Whereto might the strength of their hands profit me? Job 30
2. To improve to advance.
It is a great means of profiting yourself, to copy diligently excellent pieces and beautiful designs.
PROF'IT, To gain advantage in percuniary interest as, to profit by trade or manufactures.
1. To make improvement to improve to grow wiser or better to advance in any thing useful as, to profit by reading or by experience.
She has profited by your counsel.
2. To be of use or advantage to bring good to.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath. Proverbs 11
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): ( v. i.) To be of use or advantage; to do or bring good.
(2): ( n.) Acquisition beyond expenditure; excess of value received for producing, keeping, or selling, over cost; hence, pecuniary gain in any transaction or occupation; emolument; as, a profit on the sale of goods.
(3): ( n.) Accession of good; valuable results; useful consequences; benefit; avail; gain; as, an office of profit,
(4): ( v. i.) To gain advantage; to make improvement; to improve; to gain; to advance.
(5): ( n.) To be of service to; to be good to; to help on; to benefit; to advantage; to avail; to aid; as, truth profits all men.
