Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Philippians 1:15
What does Philippians 1:15 mean?
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Philippians 1:15
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Paul rejoices not just that Christ is being preached, but that this preaching, even when motivated by envy and rivalry, still ultimately proclaims Christ. This highlights a profound trust that God can use even impure motives and actions to advance His message.
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is writing from prison, facing a challenging situation where his ministry is restricted. Despite this, he hears that others are proclaiming Christ, though with mixed motives. Some are doing it out of jealousy and a desire to compete with Paul, while others are genuinely motivated by love for Christ and a desire to spread the gospel.
Did you know that even in the early church, not everyone who proclaimed Jesus did so with pure intentions? Some had hidden agendas!
Paul, writing from prison, acknowledges that some people were preaching about Christ. But he points out a crucial distinction: their reasons for doing so.
The Two Groups:
Imagine a group of people who claimed to follow Jesus but insisted you also had to follow old Jewish laws. This was a real issue Paul faced!
The commentaries suggest that the group preaching out of "envy and strife" were likely part of the "Judaizing" movement. These individuals, though professing faith in Christ, still held onto elements of the Mosaic Law, like circumcision, as necessary for salvation or for being a true follower.
Their Agenda:
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Paul could still rejoice that Christ was being proclaimed, even by those with mixed motives, because the core message of Christ's identity was getting out. However, he clearly distinguished their impure motives and potentially compromised message from the pure Gospel preached by those motivated by genuine love.
Understand the original words
kēryssousin · Greek Verb
To proclaim, announce, or herald a message publicly. In a biblical context, it refers to the authoritative declaration of the gospel, inviting people to respond to the truth of Christ.
phthonon · Greek Noun
A feeling of resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck; in a biblical context, it is a work of the flesh that stands in opposition to the unity and love of the body of Christ.
erin · Greek Noun
A spirit of contention, selfish ambition, or the desire to put oneself forward at the expense of others. It is often contrasted with the humility required of Christ's followers.
The tension Paul describes in Philippians wasn't just a minor disagreement; it was part of a long-standing conflict with Judaizing teachers who sought to undermine his authority and distort the gospel, even while under his own house arrest.
c. AD 49
Council of Jerusalem
A pivotal council where Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus debated the requirements for new believers. The outcome largely favored Gentile freedom from Mosaic law, a decision Paul strongly supported.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
During his extensive ministry in Ephesus, Paul faced significant opposition, particularly from Judaizing factions who insisted on adherence to the Law of Moses alongside faith in Christ.
c. AD 56
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians
In this letter, Paul addresses divisions within the Corinthian church, including factions loyal to different leaders, highlighting the dangers of party spirit and unhealthy rivalries.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul was under house arrest in Rome, awaiting trial. This period, though restrictive, allowed him to receive visitors and continue to influence the church, but also created opportunities for opponents.
c. AD 62
Philippians Written
Paul penned the letter to the Philippians from Rome during his imprisonment, reflecting on the circumstances of his ministry and the conduct of other believers.
This passage directly addresses the divisions and factions within the Corinthian church, mirroring the 'envy and strife' that Paul mentions in Philippians, showing how even early on, differing motives could cause division in proclaiming Christ.
Galatians 1:6-9Paul confronts those who preach a different 'gospel' than the one he delivered, which often stemmed from a desire to uphold their own interpretations or traditions, similar to the 'envy and strife' motives in Philippians.
Matthew 23:5-7Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for their public displays and desire for recognition, which aligns with the self-serving motives ('envy and strife') of some preachers in Philippians, contrasted with the humility of those acting 'from good will'.
1 Timothy 6:3-5Paul warns Timothy against those who teach with wrong motives, like seeking 'gain' or causing 'strife', which provides a broader context for understanding the problematic preaching described in Philippians.
barnesPhilippians 1:15: "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:"
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife - What was the ground of this "envy and strife" the apostle does not mention. It would seem, however, that even in Rome there was a party which was jealous of the influence of Paul, and which supposed that this was a good opportunity to diminish his influence, and to strengthen their own cause. He was not now at large so as to be able: to meet and…
gillPhilippians 1:15: "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:"
Some, indeed, preach Christ,.... That is, some of them, as the Arabic version reads; some of the brethren, that were only so in profession; wherefore these could not be the unbelieving Jews, who preached the Messiah in general, but did not believe Jesus of Nazareth to be he, and opened the prophecies of the Old Testament relating to him, to the Gentiles; at which the apostle is by some thought to…
Paul rejoices not just that Christ is being preached, but that this preaching, even when motivated by envy and rivalry, still ultimately proclaims Christ. This highlights a profound trust that God can use even impure motives and actions to advance His message.
Paul is writing from prison, facing a challenging situation where his ministry is restricted. Despite this, he hears that others are proclaiming Christ, though with mixed motives. Some are doing it out of jealousy and a desire to compete with Paul, while others are genuinely motivated by love for Christ and a desire to spread the gospel.
Paul is writing from prison, facing a challenging situation where his ministry is restricted. Despite this, he hears that others are proclaiming Christ, though with mixed motives. Some are doing it out of jealousy and a desire to compete with Paul, while others are genuinely motivated by love for Christ and a desire to spread the gospel.
"Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will." — Paul rejoices not just that Christ is being preached, but that this preaching, even when motivated by envy and rivalry, still ultimately proclaims Christ. This highlights a profound trust that God ca…
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Last reviewed October 2026