Philippians 1:16
in Philippians 1The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
the one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel;
KJV
The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
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This verse in Philippians 1
Commentary
10 notes on this versePreach Christ of contention - The Judaizing teachers, they also preach Christ; they acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ or promised Messiah, and preach him as such. Not sincerely - Ουχ ἁγνως· Not chastely, garbling the Gospel; not speaking the whole truth, but just what served their purpose; and at the same time they denounced the apostle as an enemy to the Divine institutions, because he spoke against circumcision.
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.
This site's exposition
appointed for the defense of the gospel
Those who preach in love read Paul's chains rightly. They know God has set him in place to defend the gospel, so his prison is a post he holds. Clarke identifies the rival preachers of the next verse as Judaizing teachers who preached Christ while opposing Paul over circumcision.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Gaius Marius VictorinusEPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.15-17 · Written before 370.
proposed
Some preach Christ "from envy" because of their malice and contentiousness. What they feel is simply envy. They do not preach Christ in a holy and decent manner but merely in order to heap up grief upon me and increase my trial and sorrow. They …
"The one proclaim Christ of faction not sincerely." That is, not with pure motives, nor from regard to the matter itself; but why? "thinking to add affliction to my bonds." As they think that I shall thus fall into greater peril, they add affliction to affliction. O cruelty! O devilish instigation! They saw him in bonds, and cast into prison, and still they envied him. They would increase his calamities, and render him subject to greater anger: well said he, "thinking," for it did not so turn out. They thought indeed to grieve me by this; but I rejoiced that the Gospel was furthered.
The Medieval Church2 voices
That is, insincerely, not for the sake of the good itself. Thinking, he says, thereby to subject me to greater danger and to add sorrow to sorrow. But this scheme will not succeed for them; because the preaching through this becomes more glorious, and my …
The Apostle continues, the latter do it out of love, which causes good will, because they preached to make up for my being prevented from teaching.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The one preach Christ of contention,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
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.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The one preach Christ of contention - So as to form parties, and to produce strifes among his professed followers. Not sincerely - Not “purely” - ἁγνῶς hagnōs - not with pure motives or intentions. Their real aim is not to preach Christ, but to produce difficulty, and to stir up strife. They are ambitious people, and they have no real regard for the welfare of the church and the honor of religion. Supposing to add affliction to my bonds - To make my trial the greater. How they did this is unknown. Perhaps they were those who were strongly imbued with Jewish notions, and who felt that his course tended to diminish respect for the law of Moses, and who now took this opportunity to promote their views, knowing that this would be particularly painful to him when he was not at liberty to meet them openly, and to defend his own opinions. It is possible also that they may have urged that Paul himself had met with a signal reproof for the course which he had taken, and, as a consequence, was now thrown into chains. Bloomfield suggests that it was the opinion of many of the ancient expositors that they endeavored to do this by so preaching as to excite the fury of the multitude or the rulers against Paul, and to produce increased severity in his punishment. But the way in which they did this is unknown, and conjecture is altogether useless.
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 1:12Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:9
for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
- Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Acts 11:19–21
Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
- 2 Timothy 2:9
Through
2 Corinthians 2:17For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 4:2
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to…
- 2 Corinthians 1:12
And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom,…
- 2 Peter 2:1–3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on…
- 2 Timothy 4:3–4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- 2 Corinthians 4:2
Through
Psalms 69:26For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.
it leads to
- Isaiah 53:4
Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.
- Isaiah 53:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About Philippians
This page draws on 10 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); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.15-17; 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.