Philippians 1:12-18

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Scripture Philippians 1:12-18
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. [1]

Devotion
            In these verses Paul seeks to calm the anxiety of his readers. What most people would see as adversity. His being locked up in jail. Paul uses to witness to the power of the gospel. Indeed, Paul’s imprisonment for Christ has become known throughout the imperial guard. Paul has had the opportunity to proclaim the name of Jesus everywhere in his prison. “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 prætorian guard, and to all the rest.”[2]
            And as a result, Paul’s companions outside of prison are being more bold to preach the gospel in the city of Rome. Becoming fearless because of Paul’s imprisonment are preaching the gospel to everyone who will listen. “With Paul not having the freedom to minister where he pleased, other believers had taken the baton or come up to the plate to speak the word of God in Paul’s stead. Conventional or worldly wisdom would think the threat of jail would make Christians fearful of proclaiming their faith. Yet the opposite was true. God saw fit to use what looked to be a setback to gain new converts.[3]”


            Paul is aware that there are people on the outside who are preaching the gospel out of a desire to hurt Paul in his imprisonment. But some are preaching Christ out of good will. Because they love Paul and God. Knowing the reason for his imprisonment is meant for the advancement of the gospel. “Paul’s difficulties spawned missionary zeal based on two types of motives: selfishness and goodwill. Seizing the opportunity of the moment, some envied the success God had given Paul, while others wanted to be a part of what God was doing through Paul. Both gave people the good news of Christ’s gospel.[4]”
            Some preached hoping to bring down wrath upon Paul’s head as the gospel made headway throughout the imperial guard. Others preached Christ and him crucified and raised to new life out of a desire to be a part of the movement of the gospel in Rome. Paul says whatever the motive he is content that the gospel is being preached. Paul, knowing that there is nothing the emperor can do to him that God has not already ordained. “The commitments which drove him in his life now kept him as he contemplated his death. Even in the midst of such deep reflection, Paul was optimistic. He would be saved, Christ would be glorified one way or another, and the gospel would go forth.[5]”

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 1:12–18.
[2] John Chrysostom, “Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Philippians,” in Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. W. C. Cotton and John Albert Broadus, vol. 13, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1889), 189.
[3] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 209.
[4] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 209.
[5] Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 32, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 78.

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