Philippians 1:14
in Philippians 1And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.
KJV
And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
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This verse in Philippians 1
Commentary
14 notes on this verseWaxing confident - Finding the effect produced by the public defense which the apostle made, they were greatly encouraged, and the more boldly and openly proclaimed the doctrine of Christ crucified. The word - The doctrine of Christ; several excellent MSS. and versions add, some Θεου, others Κυριου, the word of God, or the word of the Lord. This is a respectable reading, and is probably genuine.
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.
This site's exposition
speak the word without fear
The chains made other preachers bolder. Matthew Henry notes that what the enemy meant to discourage them was turned to their encouragement. He adds that they had seen the worst and no longer feared it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
When (the apostle) mentions the several motives of those who were preaching the gospel, how that some, "waxing confident by his bonds, were more fearless in speaking the word," while others "preached Christ even out of envy and strife, and again others out of good-will" many also "out of love," and certain "out of contention," and some "in rivalry to himself," he had a favourable opportunity, no doubt, of taxing what they preached with a diversity of doctrine, as if it were no less than this which caused so great a variance in their tempers.
His constancy inspires others to be fearless in preaching. They are learning by the apostle's example that God is present to watch over those who love him. This itself has an effect upon the misguided brethren who have been preaching the Word of God as …
"My chains," he says in effect, "have themselves become the source of courage to the others. They can easily see that I bear adversity with joy. So they come to preach the divine gospel fearlessly."
"And that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word without fear." This shows that they were of good courage even before, and spoke with boldness, but much more now. If others then, says he, are of good courage through my bonds, much more am I; if I am the cause of confidence to others, much more to myself. "And most of the brethren in the Lord." As it was a great thing to say, My bonds gave confidence to them, he therefore adds beforehand, "in the Lord." Do you see how, even when he sees himself constrained to speak great things, he departs not from moderation? "Are more abundantly bold," he says, "to speak the word without fear"; the words "more abundantly" show that they had already begun.
The Medieval Church1 voice
And before they preached boldly, but now even more so, seeing me preaching boldly, even though I am in chains. For when they saw me in chains, they felt even greater zeal for preaching. And since it seemed too strong for Paul to say: I …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
As for the progress of others, their faith has grown apace: most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear. "Like the magistrate of the people, …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
They were more fully satisfied and persuaded by what they saw. Observe the power of divine grace; that which was intended by the enemy to discourage the preachers of the gospel was overruled for their encouragement. And are much more bold to speak the word without fear; they see the worst of it, and therefore are not afraid to venture.
Trusting in the Lord through my bonds - When they observed my constancy, and safety not withstanding, are more bold. Some indeed preach Christ out of contention - Envying St. Paul's success, and striving to hurt him thereby. Not sincerely - From a real desire to glorify God.
And many of the brethren in the Lord,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Translate as Greek, "And that (Php 1:13) most of the brethren in the Lord," &c. "In the Lord," distinguishes them from "brethren after the flesh," Jewish fellow countrymen. ELLICOTT translates, "Trusting in the Lord." by my bonds--encouraged by my patience in bearing my bonds. much more bold--Translate as Greek, "are more abundantly bold."
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And many of the brethren - Many Christians. It is evident from this, that there were already “many” in Rome who professed Christianity. In the Lord - In the Lord Jesus; that is, united to him and to each other by a professed attachment to him. This is a common phrase to, designate Christians. Waxing confident by my bonds - Becoming increasingly bold and zealous in consequence of my being confined. This might have been either: (1) That from the very fact that so distinguished a champion of the truth had been imprisoned, they were excited to do all they could in the cause of the gospel. Or, (2) They were aroused by the fact that the cause of his imprisonment had become generally understood, and that there was a strong current of popular favor setting toward Christianity in consequence of it. Or, (3) They had had contact with Paul in his own “hired house,” and had been incited and encouraged by him to put forth great efforts in the cause. Or, (4) It would seem that some had been emboldened to promulgate their views, and set themselves up as preachers, who would have been restrained if Paul had been at liberty. They were disposed to form parties, and to secure followers, and rejoiced in an opportunity to increase their own popularity, and were not unwilling thus to diminish the popularity and lessen the influence of so great a man as Paul. Had he been at liberty, they would have had no prospect of success; see Php 1:16. To this may be added a suggestion by Theodoret. “Many of the brethren have increased boldness - θάρσος tharsos - on account of my bonds. For seeing me bear such hard things with pleasure, they announce that the gospel (which sustains me) is divine.” The same sentiment occurs in Oecumen, and Theophylact; see Bloomfield. […]
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοὺς | tous | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλείονας | pleionas | most | G4119 → | |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφῶν | adelphon | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| κυρίῳ | kurio | [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| πεποιθότας | pepoithotas | already trusting | G3982 → | 51 times |
| τοῖς | tois | by the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δεσμοῖς | desmois | chains | G1199 → | 17 times |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| περισσοτέρως | perissoteros | more abundantly | G4056 → | |
| τολμᾶν | tolman | to dare | G5111 → | |
| ἀφόβως | aphobos | fearlessly | G870 → | |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγον | logon | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| λαλεῖν. | lalein | to speak. | G2980 → |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοὺς<the>
tousG3588 →19766 times
πλείοναςmost
pleionasG4119 →
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφῶνbrothers
adelphonG80 →343 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
κυρίῳ[the] Lord
kurioG2962 →711 times
πεποιθόταςalready trusting
pepoithotasG3982 →51 times
τοῖςby the
toisG3588 →19766 times
δεσμοῖςchains
desmoisG1199 →17 times
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
περισσοτέρωςmore abundantly
perissoterosG4056 →
τολμᾶνto dare
tolmanG5111 →
ἀφόβωςfearlessly
aphobosG870 →
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
λόγονword
logonG3056 →329 times
λαλεῖν.to speak.
laleinG2980 →
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 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:3
I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.
- Philippians 1:5
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
- 2 Corinthians 7:3
Through
Luke 1:74deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
it leads to
- Zephaniah 3:15–17
The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm.
- 2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- Isaiah 54:13–14
Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their prosperity.
- Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
- Zephaniah 3:15–17
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:2As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of…
it leads to
- Acts 16:22–24
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.
- Acts 4:13
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- Acts 16:22–24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About Philippians
This page draws on 13 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); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.17.2; 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); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Theodoret of Cyrus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.14; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.