Philippians 1:12
in Philippians 1Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;
KJV
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
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This verse in Philippians 1
Commentary
10 notes on this verseApparently, the Philippians, having learned that Paul was in chains, were worried that this might serve as an obstacle to the preaching of the Gospel. Therefore, in order to eliminate this suspicion, Paul says that his bonds not only did not hinder my preaching of …
This site's exposition
served to advance the gospel
on Philippians 1:12-14
Paul's arrest and imprisonment have served to advance the gospel, prokope, a word for an advance cut through obstacles. The palace guard, praetorion, is the emperor's own guard, and the unit holding Paul has learned that I am in chains for Christ.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
In their great concern for Paul the Philippians had sent the blessed Epaphroditus to help him. For this reason he writes to comfort them in return. He wants to show that the chains that bind him have themselves become the instruments of salvation to many. …
"Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the Gospel, so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest." It was likely they would grieve when they heard he was in bonds, and imagine that the preaching was at a stand. What then? He straightway destroys this suspicion. And this also shows his affection, that he declares the things which had happened to him, because they were anxious. What say you? you are in bonds! you are hindered! how then does the Gospel advance? He answers, "so that my bonds in Christ became manifest in all the praetorium." This thing not only did not silence the rest, nor affright them, but contrariwise rather encouraged them. If then they who were near the dangers were not only nothing hurt, but even received greater confidence, much more should you. Had he when in bonds taken it hardly, and held his peace, it were probable that they would be affected in like sort. But as he spoke more boldly when in bonds, he gave them more confidence than if he had not been bound. And how have his bonds "turned to the progress of the Gospel"? So God in His dispensation ordered, he means, that my bonds were not hid, my bonds which were "in" Christ, which were "for" Christ. "In the whole praetorium." For up to that time they so called the palace. And in the whole city, says he.
The Medieval Church1 voice
When he says, I want you to know, brethren, he advises them in regard to the future. First, he gives examples to be followed and to be avoided; secondly, he concludes his moral exhortation (ch. 4). In regard to the first he does two things: …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
): The things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. A strange chemistry of Providence this, to extract so great a good as the enlargement of the gospel out of so great an evil as the confinement of the apostle. " I suffer trouble as an evil-doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound, 2 Tim. ii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
But I would ye should understand, brethren,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
That the things which happened unto me - St. Paul was at this time a prisoner at Rome, and it appears probable that he had already been called to make a defense for himself, and to vindicate the doctrines of the Gospel; and this he had been enabled to do in such a manner that the honor of the Gospel had been greatly promoted by it.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
understand--Greek, "know." The Philippians probably had feared that his imprisonment would hinder the spread of the Gospel; he therefore removes this fear. the things which happened unto me--Greek, "the things concerning me." rather--so far is my imprisonment from hindering the Gospel. Faith takes in a favorable light even what seems adverse [BENGEL] (Php 1:19, 28;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But I would ye should understand - Paul here turns to himself, and goes into a somewhat extended account of his own feelings in his trials, and of the effects of his imprisonment at Rome he wished them to understand what his circumstances were, and what had been the effect of his imprisonment, probably, for such reasons as these: (1) They were tenderly attached to him, and would feel an interest in all that pertained to him. (2) It was possible that they might hear unfounded rumors about the manner of his treatment, and he wished that they should understand the exact truth. (3) He had real intelligence to communicate to them that would be joyful to them, about the effect of his imprisonment, and his treatment there; and he wished them to rejoice with him. That the things which happened unto me - The accusations against him, and his imprisonment at Rome. He had been falsely accused, and had been constrained to appeal to Caesar, and had been taken to Rome as a prisoner; Acts 25–28. This arrest and imprisonment would seem to have been against his success as a preacher; but he now says that the contrary had been the fact. Have fallen out - Have resulted in. Literally, “have come.” Tyndale. “My business is happened.” The furtherance - The increase, the promotion of the gospel. Instead of being a hindrance, they have been rather an advantage.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Γινώσκειν | ginoskein | To know | G1097 → | 221 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| βούλομαι, | boulomai | I want, | G1014 → | |
| ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | brothers, | G80 → | 343 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατ᾽ | kat᾽ | concerning | G2596 → | 468 times |
| ἐμὲ | eme | me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | really | G3123 → | 81 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| προκοπὴν | prokopen | [the] advancement | G4297 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγελίου | euangeliou | gospel | G2098 → | 73 times |
| ἐλήλυθεν, | eleluthen | have turned out, | G2064 → | 628 times |
ΓινώσκεινTo know
ginoskeinG1097 →221 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
βούλομαι,I want,
boulomaiG1014 →
ἀδελφοί,brothers,
adelphoiG80 →343 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
κατ᾽concerning
kat᾽G2596 →468 times
ἐμὲme myself
emeG1473 →839 times
μᾶλλονreally
mallonG3123 →81 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
προκοπὴν[the] advancement
prokopenG4297 →
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγελίουgospel
euangeliouG2098 →73 times
ἐλήλυθεν,have turned out,
eleluthenG2064 →628 times
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
Romans 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.
- Romans 5:3–5
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
Romans 8:37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
- 1 John 4:4
You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
- 2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
- 1 Corinthians 15:57
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, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians; 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; Theodoret of Cyrus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.12-13; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.