Philippians 1:15
in Philippians 1It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
KJV
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
⋯
This verse in Philippians 1
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But the others out of contention (or rather, 'a factious spirit'; 'cabal'; a spirit of intrigue, using unscrupulous means to compass their end; 'self-seeking' [ALFORD]) proclaim (the Greek is not the same as that for 'preach,' but, 'announce') Christ, not sincerely (answering to 'but of a spirit of intrigue,' or 'self-seeking').
This site's exposition
out of envy and rivalry
on Philippians 1:15-17
Paul names two groups preaching the same Christ, some out of envy and rivalry and others out of goodwill. Selfish ambition, eritheia, is the faction word forbidden again at 2:3.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife, and some also of good will." And what this means is worth enquiry. Since Paul was under restraint, many of the unbelievers, willing to stir up more vehemently the persecution from the Emperor, themselves also preached Christ, in order that the Emperor's wrath might be increased at the spread of the Gospel, and all his anger might fall on the head of Paul. From my bonds then two lines of action have sprung. One party took great courage thereat; the other, from hope to work my destruction, set themselves to preach Christ; "some of them through envy," that is, envying my reputation and constancy, and from desire of my destruction, and the spirit of strife, work with me; or that they themselves may be esteemed, and from the expectation that they will draw to themselves somewhat of my glory. "And some also of good will," that is, without hypocrisy, with all earnestness.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Yet there is some diversity among these, because some spoke properly and some not. Of those who spoke properly, some did so out of general love, and others out of love for the Apostle; of those who spoke improperly, some acted out of general malice, …
After Paul was seized, many from among the unbelievers began to preach Christ, wishing by this to arouse Nero to greater wrath, so that he would put Paul to death as quickly as possible, since through him the preaching was spreading everywhere. This is what …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Some, indeed, preach Christ,....
However, there were others who were animated by Paul's sufferings to preach Christ the more vigorously: Some also of good will, and love: from sincere affection to the gospel, that the work might not stand while the workman was laid up.-- Knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Some - preach Christ even of envy and strife - These must have been the Judaizing teachers, who insisted on the necessity of connecting the Mosaic rites with the Christian institutions; and, probably, denounced Paul to the Jews dwelling at Rome as not only an enemy to the law and the prophets, but also as a very imperfect Christian, because he declared strongly against the doctrine of circumcision, etc.; and no doubt endeavored to prejudice him with the heathen Romans. The word preach is not to be taken here as implying that the different persons mentioned were what we call preachers of the Gospel: all that we can understand from St. Paul’s use of the word is, that they proclaimed Christ as the promised Messiah, espoused the Christian cause, and contended, whether in public or private, that this Jesus was the Christ; but nothing of this kind appears to have been intended in reference to the conversion of sinners. Some also of good will - Some, through mere benevolence to the apostle, both espoused his doctrine and vindicated his cause.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife - What was the ground of this “envy and strife” the apostle does not mention. It would seem, however, that even in Rome there was a party which was jealous of the influence of Paul, and which supposed that this was a good opportunity to diminish his influence, and to strengthen their own cause. He was not now at large so as to be able: to meet and confute them. They had access to the mass of the people.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τινὲς | tines | Some | G5100 → | 528 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| διὰ | dia | from | G1223 → | 664 times |
| φθόνον | phthonon | envy | G5355 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔριν, | erin | strife, | G2054 → | |
| τινὲς | tines | some | G5100 → | 528 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | from | G1223 → | 664 times |
| εὐδοκίαν | eudokian | goodwill | G2107 → | |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστὸν | christon | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| κηρύσσουσιν. | kerussousin | are proclaiming —. | G2784 → |
τινὲςSome
tinesG5100 →528 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
διὰfrom
diaG1223 →664 times
φθόνονenvy
phthononG5355 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔριν,strife,
erinG2054 →
τινὲςsome
tinesG5100 →528 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
δι᾽from
di᾽G1223 →664 times
εὐδοκίανgoodwill
eudokianG2107 →
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
ΧριστὸνChrist
christonG5547 →523 times
κηρύσσουσιν.are proclaiming —.
kerussousinG2784 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
it leads to
- Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- Galatians 5:26
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
- Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- Ephesians 4:2
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- 1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Romans 12:10
Through
2 Corinthians 11:13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
it leads to
- Galatians 1:7
which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
- Revelation 2:2
I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Galatians 1:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About Philippians
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.