Immanuel - Mankato Bible Class
Study of Philippians – Lesson 4
January 28, 2001
Philippians 1:12-18

Introduction:

In the opening of his letter, Paul has greeted the Christians in Philippi. He is now ready to address the first purpose of his letter, namely, to update the Philippians concerning his situation in Rome and to reassure them that the work of the Gospel was continuing. As is the case in any Christian’s life, Paul’s "update" for the Philippians gave testimony to the grace of God and His working in Paul’s life.

Verses 12-13: Now I am sincerely desiring for you to understand, brothers, that the things that have come upon me have worked out toward a greater striking forth of the Gospel so that it has become clear to the whole praetorium and all the others that my bonds are in connection with Christ.

• UNDERSTAND: Paul emphasizes his desire for the Philippians to KNOW/UNDERSTAND the real nature of his imprisonment. He didn’t want the Philippians to have any lingering doubts or worries, but rather to keep on rejoicing in the Lord.
• STRIKING FORTH/ADVANCE: The picture is that of a pioneer cutting and slashing to make his way through brush and rugged country. The forward movement may be marred by difficult work and seemingly many obstacles. However, the brush is cut away and progress is made. Even slow progress forward is still progress.
• Any human expectations would be that the imprisonment of the Apostle would lead to a slowing if not stopping of the Gospel’s spread. Enemies of the Gospel might even suppose that Paul’s imprisonment would lead people to discount the value of his message. WRONG! The true result of Paul’s imprisonment was that the Gospel went forward even more than before! cf: early persecution of the church and the attempts to destroy Christianity. "The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).
• PRAETORIUM: There is some debate as to who exactly is described when Paul writes, "the whole Praetorium." The "Praetorium" originally referred to the Praetor’s tent and its surroundings in the battlefield camp. It later became used as a name for a governor’s house (cf: John 18:28, Acts 23:35) and also the ruler’s guard detail. Generally, Paul’s reference could refer to: 1) The Praetorian Guard; 2) The barracks or camp of the Guard; 3) The emperor’s palace or house of another ruler; 4) The judicial authorities.

  It seems best to understand Paul’s reference as being the Praetorian Guard which was charged with the security of the emperor and also high level prisoners like Paul. The Guard detail on duty changed several times each day which would have given Paul great opportunity to share the Gospel with a wide variety of men. The Gospel would then spread throughout the barracks and thus the real reason behind Paul’s imprisonment could become evident to the whole palace guard. The "others" whom Paul mentions would be other visitors/contacts he had while imprisoned. READ: Philippians 4:22 (cf: Acts 23:30; 28:30-31).

  Paul does not comment on the "conversion rate" among the Guard – that was in God’s hands. Paul’s calling was to proclaim the Gospel and for that he was given great opportunity. The Praetorian Guard during Augustus’ consisted of 10,000 men and it was later expanded to 16,000!

• Paul’s bonds proved profitable in a way that freedom would not have been.
• Would Paul have reached so many without his bonds?
• Would Paul have reached that particular group of people? What would have been his "in" to the Praetorian Guard if not his bonds?
• If not for Paul’s bonds would we have had the same kind of letter in this epistle (and the other "captivity letters")?

Verse 14: And most of the brothers in the Lord – having become confident by my bonds – are to a much greater degree daring to speak the Word without fear

• DARING: The "brothers in the Lord" had the courage and boldness to meet the challenge of danger—a danger that was very real for anyone proclaiming Christ. They were emboldened to preach Christ without fear in a way they had not previously preached! Compare this to the timidity of the disciples as they huddled behind locked doors on Easter night and again one week later.
• The brethren’s confidence was not created by Paul’s imprisonment, but rather their boldness came about as they witnessed God’s hand and working through Paul’s imprisonment.

Verses 15-17: Some are proclaiming Christ because of envy and rivalry, but on the other hand others are proclaiming Christ because of good will. These (proclaim) out of love, knowing that I am appointed for a defense of the Gospel; but the others are preaching Christ out of selfish ambition (and) not pure motives, supposing to inflict more pressure in connection with my bonds.

• PROCLAIM & PREACH: Paul uses two different words to speak of "preaching." The first word (translated "proclaiming" above) conveys the thought of a herald crying out his news. Paul uses the second word (translated as "preaching" above) for the proclamation of the ill-motivated preachers, but also for the preaching of Christ in verse 18 (below). These words can be used nearly synonymously, but the word translated "preaching" has an intensive force. It speaks of preaching with authority.
• FRUITS OF THE FLESH: RIVALRY (v.15) and SELFISH AMBITION (v. 17) are both in Paul’s "fruits of the flesh" list in Galatians 5:19ff.
• WHO? Paul doesn’t identify the ill-motivated preachers beyond stating their envy and desire to add pressure to his bonds. Some have speculated that Paul was referring to his frequent opponents—the Judaizers. This cannot be because Paul would not speak of the Judaizers’ doctrine and preaching as "preaching Christ" regardless of motivation (cf: Galatians). Quite likely Paul is referring to people within the Roman congregation—perhaps leaders who became jealous of Paul’s popularity and standing among the Christians in Rome. READ 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.
• CONTRASTS:

Envy & rivalry vs. good will ~ two very different approaches to what appeared to be much the same work.

Knowing vs. supposing ~ The falsely motivated preachers made some suppositions about what they were doing, but they were only suppositions and were proven false. On the other hand, someone who is following Christ KNOWS and is confident.

Love vs. selfish ambition/not pure motives ~ The love the true spirited preachers showed was love for Paul. They knew he was a defender of God’s truth. They shared in his love for the Gospel (cf: 1:5) and, therefore, they preached as co-workers of Paul loving him in Christ as an apostle. Their love for Paul and the motivation to preach as they did, ultimately traces itself back to a love of Christ and the Gospel.

"’Professional jealousy’ can exist between called church workers of differing abilities. Petty jealousies and rivalries may arise among church members, so that they are quick to criticize and work for the Lord and His church on earth in the spirit of envy and strife. . .We need to strive against the desire for personal recognition that so often spoils even our best efforts for our Lord and His church. . .It is comforting, too, to know that the Lord can take even those actions of ours that flow from motives that are less than pure and use them in the service of His kingdom" [People’s Bible, NPH, 1986, Harlyn J. Kuschel, pp. 26f]

In the false motives in the preachers of whom Paul spoke we may also find false motives in our own kingdom work. Examples: If we do mission work because the Baptists or Assembly of God do it, we’re proclaiming Christ out of law motivation and selfish ambition. If we base our kingdom work and offerings to that work on comparisons with other individuals or congregations or denominations then we are working from envy and selfish ambitions.

What are ways that this falsely motivated preaching might have inflicted more pressure in connection with Paul’s bonds? Do you think they were successful?

Verse 18: What then? Only that in every way—whether in pretense or in truth—that Christ is being preached and in connection with this I am rejoicing! Not only that, but indeed I will keep on rejoicing…[Why? Paul explains in the following verses (Lesson 5)]

• Paul had no difficulty understanding how God was being glorified in the difficult and frustrating circumstances of his imprisonment. Paul was able to rejoice in prison because the Gospel was not imprisoned. READ: 2 Timothy 2:9.
• Paul does not defend the selfish ambition of the ill-motivated preachers. His rejoicing is not in any way related to their motives. These selfish preachers would one day have to answer for their sin—either in repentance or judgment. Paul will also later in the letter speak against such selfish ambition (2:3ff).
• Paul REJOICES IN A GLORIOUS TRUTH, namely, that the effectiveness of the Gospel does not depend on the faith or the proper motives of the preachers.
• Paul’s "whether…or" contrast is NOT speaking about truth vs. false doctrine. Rather, he is speaking about a TRUE MOTIVE or a FALSE PRETENSE
• This Passage does NOT support:
• I’ll go to the "First Lutheran Almost Like I Believe" church in my town because I can’t find one that is faithful in everything and at least I’m going to church and hearing the word.
• We’re all pretty much the same because we’re all Christian and are all preaching the same basic truth about Christ.
• The same God who inspired and the same apostle who wrote Philippians 1:18 also inspired/wrote GALATIANS 5:9 and ROMANS 16:17-18.
• READ Luke 9:50
• The saving power and the glory of salvation is in the WORD and not in the ministration of it. Wherever that true power and glory of the Word shines forth, God will accomplish things concerning which we can (and should) rejoice.

FOR STUDY & DISCUSSION:

(Based in part on "A Study Guide for Philippians, Colossians, Philemon," Harlyn J. Kuschel, NPH, 1987)

1. Read Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20; 2 Corinthians 12:19; 1 Peter 5:10
   1. What special promise do believers have from God when things appear dark in their lives?
   2. How did God fulfill His special promise in Paul’s life?
   3. What comfort does this give us for our "dark hours"?
   4. Why can’t we always understand how God is fulfilling this promise in our lives? Nevertheless, how can we always be sure that He is?
2. Recall some circumstances in your life when the Lord has obviously fulfilled his promise to work all things out for the good of those who are called according to His purpose. As you look back, see if you can identify God’s hand guiding and arranging various things and blessing them. Thank God for His promise and faithfulness to it!
3. Times of persecution, enmity and hatred against the Gospel, dissensions and controversies have often in the history of the church or in the life of a congregation or of an individual failed to do any harm to the Gospel, but have rather advanced the cause of the Gospel [Wenzel p. 52]. Agree or Disagree? – We have reason to EXPECT progress of the Gospel when adverse circumstances come.
4. How do some Christians preach Christ our of envy and strife today? What ultimately lies at the root of any such preaching?
5. How does the principle underlying Paul’s statement in verse 18 affect our view toward other churches?

{WCE}