Philippians 1:16
The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that even when people preach about Jesus, their motives are what truly matter. Paul points out some were acting out of genuine love and understanding, while others preached with selfish ambition, hoping to stir up trouble for him. This shows us that a right message can still be delivered with wrong intentions, and the attitude behind the words makes all the difference.
Paul is contrasting two groups of people who are preaching about Christ. While some are motivated by genuine love and understand his imprisonment is for the sake of the gospel, others are preaching with ulterior motives. These less sincere preachers, driven by partisanship or a desire to stir up trouble, wrongly believed their actions would add to Paul's suffering in prison.
Imagine the tension: Paul is imprisoned, and the Gospel is still spreading. But not everyone sharing the good news has the same heart.
Paul contrasts two groups preaching Christ. One group is driven by 'faction' (ἐρίθεια - eritheia). This isn't just disagreement; it's a spirit of rivalry, ambition, and self-serving competition. They aren't focused on Christ's glory or the church's health, but on advancing their own agenda. Their preaching might even be doctrinally correct, but their impure motives corrupt their ministry. They're more concerned with 'winning' than with serving.
In contrast to the self-serving crowd, Paul highlights another group whose actions stem from a deeper, purer source.
The other preachers are motivated 'out of love.' This love isn't just general affection; it's a love for Christ and, by extension, for Paul and the Gospel he defends. They understand Paul's imprisonment not as a setback, but as a divinely appointed moment ('knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel'). Their preaching, therefore, isn't about gaining an advantage or causing trouble, but about faithfully supporting the mission, even when the messenger is in chains.
Understand the original words
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.
Paul's imprisonment in Rome wasn't an isolated event but occurred within a context of growing Christianity, internal church disputes, and an increasingly suspicious Roman Empire, all of which colored the circumstances under which his letters were written and received.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
The Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome, likely under house arrest, for about two years. This period allowed him to write several letters, including Philippians.
Early 1st century AD
Growth of Christianity in Rome
Christianity, though a minority religion, was growing in Rome and other parts of the Roman Empire. It was often viewed with suspicion by Roman authorities.
1st century AD
Tensions with Judaizing Teachers
Within the early church, there were ongoing tensions, particularly with teachers who insisted on adherence to Jewish law and customs for Gentile believers.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome and Persecution
While Paul's imprisonment predates this, the Great Fire of Rome led Emperor Nero to scapegoat Christians, initiating a period of intense persecution.
This passage speaks of those who distort the gospel, drawing a parallel to the 'contention' and insincerity mentioned in Philippians 1:16, suggesting a similar motive of self-promotion or division rather than pure gospel proclamation.
1 Timothy 1:4This verse addresses pointless controversies and genealogies, which relates to the 'contention' mentioned in Philippians 1:16, highlighting how such arguments distract from the core message of faith.
2 Corinthians 11:3The imagery of the serpent deceiving Eve by its cunning can be seen as a parallel to the 'not sincerely' aspect in Philippians 1:16, where motives are mixed and the purity of the message is compromised for other aims.
Romans 8:28This verse offers a powerful counterpoint to the opponents' intentions in Philippians 1:16, as it assures believers that God works all things for good, even the actions of those who preach with wrong motives.
1 Peter 3:15This passage calls believers to 'be ready to give a defense' for their faith, which directly echoes Paul's statement in Philippians 1:16 about being 'put here for the defense of the gospel,' showing the importance of standing firm for the truth.
barnesPhilippians 1:16: "The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:"
The one preach Christ of contention - So as to form parties, and to produce strifes among his professed followers. Not sincerely - Not "purely" - ἁγνῶς hagnōs - not with pure motives or intentions. Their real aim is not to preach Christ, but to produce difficulty, and to stir up strife. They are ambitious people, and they have no real regard for the welfare of the church and the…
gillPhilippians 1:16: "The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:"
The one preach Christ of contention,.... That is, those that preached of envy and strife, an not of good will to Christ, to the Gospel, to the souls of men, or to the apostle; and though they preached Christ, yet not sincerely or "purely"; not but that they delivered the sincere milk of the word, and preached the pure Gospel of Christ, without any mixture and adulteration; but then t…
The verse highlights that even when people preach about Jesus, their motives are what truly matter. Paul points out some were acting out of genuine love and understanding, while others preached with selfish ambition, hoping to stir up trouble for him. This shows us that a right message can still be delivered with wrong intentions, and the attitude behind the words makes all the difference.
Paul is contrasting two groups of people who are preaching about Christ. While some are motivated by genuine love and understand his imprisonment is for the sake of the gospel, others are preaching with ulterior motives. These less sincere preachers, driven by partisanship or a desire to stir up trouble, wrongly believed their actions would add to Paul's suffering in prison.
Paul is contrasting two groups of people who are preaching about Christ. While some are motivated by genuine love and understand his imprisonment is for the sake of the gospel, others are preaching with ulterior motives. These less sincere preachers, driven by partisanship or a desire to stir up trouble, wrongly believed their actions would add to Paul's suffering in prison.
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"The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel." — The verse highlights that even when people preach about Jesus, their motives are what truly matter. Paul points out some were acting out of genuine love and understanding, while others preached wit…
