philotimeomai describes setting one’s aim on conduct or work: quiet living, pleasing him, or preaching where Christ was not named.

Across its three attestations, the verb marks a stated aim: quiet, self-directed work in 1 Thessalonians 4:11; being well-pleasing to him in 2 Corinthians 5:9; and preaching where Christ was not named in Romans 15:20.

1. Setting an aim for a specified course · dominant

   The present middle forms introduce a directed course of action in all three verses. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11 the APB renders the clause "to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands"; in 2 Corinthians 5:9 it renders "we also aspire ... to be well-pleasing to him"; and in Romans 15:20 it renders "I aspire to preach the gospel where Christ was not named."

   1 Thessalonians 4:112 Corinthians 5:9Romans 15:20

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB uses "aspire" in each cited clause, attaching it to quiet living and manual work, being well-pleasing to him, and preaching where Christ was not named. These clauses show the verse-level presentation rather than a precise English-token equivalence.