Philippians 1:12-18
What Has Happened to Me
Read the passage
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
18What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Paul wants the Philippians to know what has happened to the gospel during his imprisonment. His chains have helped advance it. The whole palace guard and others have learned that he is imprisoned for Christ.
Most of the believers have also grown bolder. Seeing Paul remain in chains has strengthened their confidence in the Lord, and they dare to speak God's word without fear. The confinement of one messenger has not confined the message.
Yet the motives of those preaching are mixed. Some act out of love, knowing Paul is appointed to defend the gospel. Others preach from envy and selfish ambition, hoping to increase his distress. Paul names that wrongdoing plainly.
He can still rejoice because Christ is being preached. His joy concerns the true message reaching people, even when a preacher's motives are false. He is not approving the rivalry or saying that the content of a message does not matter. In this situation, the gospel is advancing despite an attempt to hurt him.
Paul gives his friends reason to thank God while the hardship continues. They can see the Lord at work among guards, believers and even people whose intentions toward Paul are unkind.
How We Know
Paul openly reports envy and selfish ambition among people preaching Christ. This is a limited example of candor: the letter acknowledges conflict within the Christian community rather than presenting every messenger favorably. That observation supports its frank account of this difficulty; it does not by itself prove every claim in the letter.
Questions
1 What surprising effect has Paul's imprisonment had?
AnswerIt has advanced the gospel. The palace guard and others know he is in chains for Christ, and believers are speaking more boldly.
2 Where do the encouraged believers place their confidence?
AnswerTheir confidence is in the Lord. Paul's chains have encouraged them to speak God's word without fear.
3 What different motives does Paul describe among the preachers?
AnswerSome preach from love and goodwill; others act from envy and selfish ambition, hoping to add to Paul's distress.
4 Why can Paul rejoice despite the rivalry?
AnswerChrist is being preached. Paul values the gospel reaching people even while recognizing that some messengers are acting wrongly toward him.
What This Means for Us
Another Christian may accomplish something good while treating us unkindly. We can be honest about the wrong and still thank God for the good He accomplishes. Joy in Christ need not wait until everyone gives us fair credit.
This passage also gives us a way to pray for believers whose freedom is restricted: ask that Christ will become known through them and that others will gain courage to speak.
Prayer
Lord, advance Your gospel through Your servants, including those who are suffering. Free us from envy, give us courage to speak, and help us rejoice when people hear of Christ. Amen.