Philippians 1:12-20

12: Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,
13: so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,
14: and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
15: Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;
16: the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
17: the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
18: What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice,
19: for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20: according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

*** 

Paul rejoiced that his imprisonment had caused a greater spread of the gospel through the Praetorian guard and beyond. Paul had been living in his own “rented quarters” with a guard for two years while in prison in Rome (Acts 28:16, 30). Paul was probably moved closer to the palace of Nero into a stricter custody of the Praetorian when his guard died. This caused Paul to rejoice that the gospel was being spread among the Praetorian, especially so close to the palace.

He also rejoiced that others were finding the courage to speak up and preach the gospel because of his imprisonment. Of course, he realized that some were doing it only to try and exalt themselves. They were taking opportunity while Paul was away to try and gain authority, or perhaps just to speak against Paul while he was not around. This didn’t bother Paul, he was just happy the gospel of Christ was being preached.

Paul was not looking to get out of prison to promote himself or to collect a gathering of followers unto him. As we saw yesterday, his greeting to the overseers and deacons as well as his acknowledgement of the Lord’s continual work in the Philippians, showed that he trusted the Lord with the care of the flock committed to him. He was not possessive of them in that way. So, those who may have purposely tried to cause trouble for Paul while he was imprisoned did not bother him at all, he was happy to have the gospel preached in his absence.

There were those who were sincerely and courageously preaching the gospel out of good will and love. They knew of Paul’s call to defend the gospel and stepped in to preach it to continue that cause. Of course, Paul rejoiced in them as well. Either way, he was confident that by their prayers, and the working of the Spirit of Jesus, he would be delivered. Yet, no matter the outcome, he would not be ashamed because Christ would be exalted in his body whether by life or by death.


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