The electrically driven swash plate compressor consists of an electric motor (21) in the motor chamber (15) and a swash plate (22) with the stationary cylinder block (13) in the crank chamber (16). The swash plate is rotated by the drive shaft (17), whereby the pistons (26,27) are reciprocated in the cylinder block (13). The refrigerant is drawn from the intake port (31A) to the suction chamber (31) and flows into the compression chamber (13E) through port (35A) undergoing compression by the movement of piston (26). The refrigerant is then discharged into the intermediate pressure chamber (32) through port (35B) and then partly discharged into the discharge chamber (33) and partly bypassed into the crank chamber (16) through the communication passage (38). From there the refrigerant is circulated into the motor chamber (16) for cooling of the electric motor (21). Additionally, the cooling effect prevents a deterioration of the state of the lubricating oil in the bearings (18B,23), the pistons (26,27) and their shoes (28,29).