Philippians 1:15-17
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The striking, and perhaps uncomfortable, truth here is that even actions as seemingly pure as preaching Christ can be driven by selfish motives like envy and a desire for personal recognition. Paul is candidly acknowledging that some people proclaimed the Gospel not out of genuine love for God or others, but out of rivalry and a need to feel superior, a stark reminder that our intentions matter just as much as our actions.
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is writing from prison, likely in Rome, to the church he planted in Philippi. Despite his circumstances, he expresses joy and gratitude, reflecting on the church's support and the spread of the gospel. He addresses internal dynamics within the Roman church, where some individuals are proclaiming Christ for self-serving reasons, while others do so with genuine motives.
Why would anyone preach about Jesus with a bad attitude? Paul tells us some did, driven by envy and rivalry. But others, he notes, did so with genuine good will.
Paul highlights a stark contrast in the motivations behind preaching about Christ.
The Negative Side: Envy and Strife
The Positive Side: Good Will
Ask a follow-up
It might seem shocking that Paul could rejoice when people preached Christ for selfish reasons. What does this tell us about the core of Christian belief?
Paul’s remarkable response reveals a profound theological conviction: the objective truth and power of Christ transcend the subjective motives of those who proclaim Him.
The Message is Greater Than the Messenger
A Call to Examine Our Own Hearts
While Paul can rejoice in the proclamation of Christ even from impure motives, this doesn't give us a free pass. It’s a call to examine our own hearts:
Paul's ability to find good even in difficult circumstances highlights the centrality of Christ above all else. The purity of the message itself was something to be celebrated.
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.
agapē · Greek Noun
Deep, sacrificial commitment and affection, often modeled after God’s love for humanity; it denotes a settled disposition of the heart to seek the highest good of another.
euangelion · Greek Noun
The 'good news' of salvation through Jesus Christ; the message of the incarnation, death, resurrection, and lordship of Jesus for the redemption of sinners.
eritheia · Greek Noun
Self-seeking behavior, rivalry, or a spirit of faction; it involves pushing one’s own agenda or status at the expense of others, often motivated by pride.
desmos · Greek Noun
A state of confinement, literal or metaphorical, often used in the New Testament to describe the apostle’s restricted condition as a servant of Christ.
The early church was a dynamic and often contentious place. Even as the gospel spread, internal rivalries and differing theological viewpoints created friction, making Paul's encouragement to focus on the core message of Christ all the more vital.
c. AD 49
Jerusalem Council
The Council of Jerusalem addressed whether Gentile believers needed to follow Jewish law, establishing a precedent for Gentile inclusion and challenging the authority of Judaizers.
c. AD 50-60
Paul's Ministry in Rome
Paul arrived in Rome under house arrest, a situation that allowed him to continue his ministry and preach the gospel, though under constraint.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
During his imprisonment, Paul faced opposition not only from outside the church but also from within, including those who preached Christ with impure motives.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome
This event led to the first major persecution of Christians in Rome under Emperor Nero, creating a climate of suspicion and danger.
This passage also speaks to divisions and rivalries within the church, highlighting how differing loyalties and perspectives can lead to contention even among those who believe in Christ.
Matthew 20:26-28Jesus contrasts the desire for power and status with the call to serve, which speaks to the underlying motivations (envy, rivalry vs. goodwill) that Paul addresses in Philippians.
Romans 14:1This verse addresses how to receive those who are weak in faith, providing a backdrop for understanding Paul's nuanced view of fellow believers who preach Christ but with different motivations.
1 Timothy 6:3-5Paul warns against those who teach different doctrine for selfish gain, which resonates with the 'envy and strife' motivation mentioned in Philippians, contrasting it with true godliness.
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…
The striking, and perhaps uncomfortable, truth here is that even actions as seemingly pure as preaching Christ can be driven by selfish motives like envy and a desire for personal recognition. Paul is candidly acknowledging that some people proclaimed the Gospel not out of genuine love for God or others, but out of rivalry and a need to feel superior, a stark reminder that our intentions matter just as much as our actions.
Paul is writing from prison, likely in Rome, to the church he planted in Philippi. Despite his circumstances, he expresses joy and gratitude, reflecting on the church's support and the spread of the gospel. He addresses internal dynamics within the Roman church, where some individuals are proclaiming Christ for self-serving reasons, while others do so with genuine motives.
Paul is writing from prison, likely in Rome, to the church he planted in Philippi. Despite his circumstances, he expresses joy and gratitude, reflecting on the church's support and the spread of the gospel. He addresses internal dynamics within the Roman church, where some individuals are proclaiming Christ for self-serving reasons, while others do so with genuine motives.
"Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but think…" — The striking, and perhaps uncomfortable, truth here is that even actions as seemingly pure as preaching Christ can be driven by selfish motives like envy and a desire for personal recognition. Paul i…
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Last reviewed October 2026
