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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
1:12-30 Paul's Reflections on His Imprisonment. Paul assures the Philippians that, though he is imprisoned, the gospel is still advancing (vv. 12-18). He is joyfully confident that no matter what happens, he will be delivered and Christ will be honored, because to live is Christ and to die is gain (vv. 19-26). Paul then encourages his readers to walk worthy of the gospel, even amid suffering (vv. 27-30).
1:12-18 Paul's Imprisonment Has Meant Progress for the Gospel. Paul realizes that the Philippians are grieved over his imprisonment, so he encourages them by pointing out that his circumstances are furthering the proclamation of the gospel. His joy in difficult circumstances is meant to be an example to the Philippians to likewise rejoice even in difficult times. Further, Paul's charitable attitude toward fellow believers who make life hard for him is also to function as a model for the Philippians, since it is evident that there is some disunity in the congregation (4:2-3).
1:12 The word Paul uses for the advance of the gospel (Gk. prokopēn) is the same word he will use in v. 25 for the Philippians' "progress" in faith. He thus underscores the need to push God's kingdom forward rather than dwelling on past or present problems.
1:13 The gospel has advanced because Paul has let the whole imperial guard (Gk. praitōrion) know that he is imprisoned only because of his testimony that Jesus is Lord. The Latin word praetorium could refer to a governor's residence and by extension those living in the residence. Those who believe that Paul wrote from Caesarea would understand the word in that sense here (see Acts 23:35). However, the word could also refer to the special guard of the emperor in Rome, as the translation above suggests. (See Introduction: Date.)
1:14 When the Christians in Rome, where Paul was imprisoned, saw his boldness even as his life was in danger, his example inspired them to be more courageous as well, so that they were much more bold in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.
1:15-18 The identity of those here who preach Christ from envy and rivalry is difficult to determine. They are clearly antagonistic to Paul, and thus one could imagine they are the same "Judaizing" people mentioned in ch. 3. But it is hard to see how Paul could rejoice in the proclamation of something (namely, a return to the old covenant) which he saw as a betrayal of the good news (see esp. the letter to the Galatians). It seems more likely that these were other Christians who preached a generally sound gospel but were personally at odds with Paul. They may have dismissed him because of his poor speaking abilities (see 1 Corinthians 1-2) or his constant suffering and weakness (see 2 Corinthians); whatever their rationale, they were not motivated by love but only by a desire to harm Paul in some way. But Paul, like Jesus, is not concerned for his own interests (cf. Phil. 2:4), and he will "rejoice" as long as the gospel is progressing.
