REJOICING IN PREACHING Philippians 1:12-21

I. THE FURTHERANCE OF  THE GOSPEL--vv. 12-18
     A. The Reason--vv. 12-14
          1. Paul bound--vv. 12, 13
               a. The fact--v. 12
                    (I) Paul wants the believers to understand his situation.--"We see here the care the apostle takes to prevent
                         their being offended at his sufferings.  He was now a prisoner at Rome; this might be a stumbling-block to
                         those who had received the gospel by his ministry.  They might be tempted to think, If  this doctrine were
                         indeed of  God, God would not suffer one who was so active and instrumental in preaching and
                         propagating it to be thrown by as a despised broken vessel.  They might be shy of  owning this doctrine,
                         lest they should be involved in the same trouble themselves.  Now to take off the offence of  the cross, he
                         expounds this dark and hard chapter of  his sufferings, and makes it very easy and intelligible, and
                         reconcilable to the wisdom and goodness of  God who employed him." (Henry, VI:727)
                    (II) Paul shows that the gospel is advanced by his situation.
                         (A) The word furtherance--"The metaphor is uncertain, but is supposed to be that of  pioneers cutting
                              (. . .) a way before (. . .) an army, and so furthering its march.” (Vincent, III:419; italics are his.)
                         (B) "A strange chemistry of  Providence this, to extract so great a good as the enlargement of  the gospel
                              out of  so great an evil as the confinement of  the apostle.  'I suffer trouble as an evil-doer, even unto
                              bonds; but the word of  God is not bound, 2 Tim. ii. 9.  They cannot imprison the word of  God; that
                              has its free course, though I am confined.'" (Henry, VI:727; italics are his.)
               b. The result--v. 13
                    (I) His bonds are in Christ.
                         (A) "His imprisonment became known as connected with Christ.  It was understood to be for Christ'
                              sake.  His bonds were not hidden as though he were an ordinary prisoner.  His very captivity
                              proclaimed Christ." (Vincent, III:419)
                         (B) "He employs the expression--In Christ, to mean, in the affairs, or in the cause of  Christ, for he
                              intimates that his bonds had become illustrious, so as to promote the honour of  Christ." (Calvin, 35;
                              italics are his.)
                    (II) His bonds preached Christ.
                         (A) "The emperor, the courtiers, the magistrates, are convinced that I do not suffer as an evil-doer, but as
                              an honest man, with a good conscience.  They know that I suffer for Christ, and not for any
                              wickedness." (Henry, VI:727)
                         (B) "Satan, indeed, has attempted it, and the wicked have thought that it would turn out so, that the gospel
                              would be destroyed; but God has frustrated both, the attempts of  the former and the expectation of
                              the latter, and that in two ways, for while the gospel was previously obscure and unknown, it has come
                              to be well known, and not only so, but has even been rendered honourable in the" palace, "no less than
                              in the rest of  the city." (Calvin, 35)
                         (C) The phrase In the palace
                              (1) Could refer to the guard only--"The apostle was under the charge of  these troops, the soldiers
                                   relieving each other in mounting guard over the prisoner, who was attached to his guard's hand by a
                                   chain.  In the allusion to his bonds, Eph. vi. 20, he uses the specific word for The coupling-chain.
                                   His contact with the different members of  the corps in succession, explains the statement that his
                                   bonds had become manifest throughout the praetorian guard." (Vincent, III:420; italics are his.)
                              (2) Could refer to Ceasar's palace--"In Rome 'palace' would have to be the emperor's palace, a
                                   possible meaning for Paul a provincial writing to provincials." (Robertson, IV:438)
                              (3) "At any rate Paul, chained to a soldier, had access to the soldiers and the officials." (Ibid.)
                              (4) Both ideas may be conveyed, but there is no reason for any departure from the KJV.
          2. Brethren bold--v. 14
               a. Most of  the brethren
                    (I) Literally, "The more part of  the brethren."
                    (II) Brothers in Christ
                         (A) In Christ all believes are brethren and/or sisters.
                         (B) Some connect In Christ with "waxing confident."
                              (1) This is also true--That is, they were more confident in Christ.
                              (2) This writer takes it as expressed in Authorized Version
               b. Waxed confident by my bonds
                    (I) It "signifies that the bonds awaken confidence as being the practical testimony to the power of  the Gospel
                         for which Paul is imprisoned, and therefore an encouragement to their faith." (Vincent, III:421)
                    (II) "The expectation of  trouble for their religion, in general, perhaps disheartened and discouraged them; but,
                         when they saw Paul imprisoned for Christ, they were so far from being deterred from preaching Christ and
                         praising his name, that it made them the more bold; for they could gladly suffer in Paul's company." (Henry,
                         VI:727)
               c. Are much more bold to speak the word without fear
                    (I) "They see the worst of  it , and therefore are not afraid to venture.  Their confidence gave them courage,
                         and their courage preserved them from the power of  fear." (Ibid.)
                    (II) Illus:  "The boldness required to profess Christ within the precincts of  the palace is illustrated by the . . .
                         wall-scribble discovered in 1857 among the ruins of  the Palatine.  It is a caricature of  Christ on the
                         cross, with an ass's head, while on the left appears a christian youth in an attitude of  adoration.
                         Underneath are scrawled the words Alexamenos worships God." (Vincent, III:421; italics are his.)
                    (III) The words to speak--"The verb denotes the fact rather than the substance of  speaking."  . . . .  "They
                         have broken silence." (Ibid.)
     B. The Roads--vv.15-17
          1. The first way--vv. 15a, 16
               a. Their action--v. 15a
                    (I) "Surely the lowest of  motives for preaching Christ.  Envy is an old word and an old sin and strife (. . .) is
                         more rivalry than schism.  It is petty and personal jealousy of  Paul's power and prowess by the Judaizers
                         in Rome whom Paul has routed in the east, but who now exult at the opportunity of  annoying their great
                         antagonist by their interpretation of  Christ.  Jealousy is always against those of  one's own class or
                         profession as preachers with preachers, doctors with doctors." (Robertson, IV:438-9)
                    (II) "Now this would be a stumbling-block and discouragement to some, that there were those who envied
                         Paul's reputation in the churches, and the interest he had among the Christians, and endeavoured to
                         supplant and undermine him.  They were secretly pleased when he was laid up in prison, that they might
                         have the better opportunity to steal away the people's affections; and they laid themselves out the more in
                         preaching, that they might gain to themselves the reputation they envied him." (Henry, VI:727)
               b. Their motives--v. 16a
                    (I) Of  contention
                         (A) Out of  partisanship
                         (B) They were against Paul.
                         (C) We have the same thing today, believer and/or preacher contending with another believer and/or
                              preacher over nothing of  real importance.
                    (II) Not sincerely
                         (A) With mixed and impure motives.
                         (B) Cf. v. 18--in pretence
                         (C) "The former, he says, do not preach Christ purely, because it was not a right zeal.  For the term does
                              not apply to doctrine, because it is possible that the man who teaches most purely, may, nevertheless,
                              not be of  a sincere mind.  Now, that this impurity was in the mind, and did not shew itself in doctrine,
                              may be inferred from the context.  Paul assuredly would have felt no pleasure in seeing the gospel
                              corrupted; yet he declares that he rejoices in the preaching of  those persons, while it was not simple or
                              sincere." (Calvin, 37; italics are his.)
               c. Their purpose--v. 16b
                    (I) To injure or downgrade Paul
                    (II) "The phrase is striking in the light of  the original meaning of " the word, "namely, pressure.  They would
                         make his bonds press more heavily and gall him." (Vincent, III:422; italics are his.)
                    (III) "They thought hereby to grieve his spirit, and make him afraid of  losing his interest, uneasy under his
                         confinement, and impatient for release.  It is sad that there should be men who profess the gospel,
                         especially who preach it, who are governed by such principles as these, who should preach Christ in spite
                         to Paul, and to increase the affliction of  his bonds.  Let us not think it strange if  in these later and more
                         degenerate ages of  the church there should be any such." (Henry, VI:728)
          2. The best way--vv. 15b, 17
               a. Their action--v. 15b
                    (I) Goodwill toward Paul
                    (II) "From sincere affection to the gospel, that the work might not stand while the workman was laid up."
                         (Ibid.)
               b. Their motive--v. 17
                    (I) Out of  love
                         (A) For Paul
                         (B) For Christ
                         (C) Cf. 1 Corinthians 13.
                    (II) They made up for Paul's lack of  service to the church.
               c. Their reason--v. 17b
                    (I) "They knew that he was appointed to support and propagate the gospel in the world, against all the
                         violence and opposition of  its enemies, and were afraid lest the gospel should suffer by his confinement.
                         This made them more bold to preach the word and supply his lack of  service to the church." (Ibid.; italics
                         are his.)
                    (II) They knew his support of  the gospel--"Those who truly loved Christ reckoned that it would be a
                         disgrace to them if  they did not associate themselves with Paul as his companions, when maintaining the
                         cause of  the gospel; and we must act in such a manner, as to give a helping hand, as far as possible, to the
                         servants of  Christ when in difficulty." (Calvin, 38)
     C. The Result--v. 18
          1. Christ preached--v. 18a
               a. What then?
                    (I) "Such being the case, how does it affect me?" (Vincent, III:422)  
                    (II) This is a sharp problem for Paul as the result of  the Judaizers.
               b. Notwithstanding
                    (I) Means except
                    (II) "What is my feeling in view of  these things?" (Vincent, III:422)
               
c. Every way, whether in p Christ is preached
                    (I) "This essential thing Paul sees in spite of  all their envy and selfishness that Christ is preached.  Whether in
                         pretence (. . .).  Either from" a Greek word meaning "to show forth, or" a Greek word meaning "to speak
                         forth, the ostensible presentation often untrue.  Paul sees clearly through the pious pretence of  these
                         Judaizers and rejoices that people get some knowledge of  Christ.  Some Christ is better than no Christ."
                         (Robertson, IV:439; italics are his.)
                    (II) "It is God's prerogative to judge of  the principles men act upon; this is out of  our line." (Henry, VI:728)
          2. Paul rejoices--v. l8b
               a. "The preaching of  Christ is the joy of all who wish well to his kingdom among men.  Since it may tend to the
                    good of  many, we ought to rejoice in it, though it be done in pretence, and not in reality." (Ibid.)
               b. "Paul is determined to rejoice in spite of  the efforts of  the Judaizers to prod him to anger." (Robertson,
                    IV:439)
               c. "Paul was so far from envying those who had liberty to preach the gospel while he was under confinement that
                    he rejoiced in the preaching of  it even by those who do it in pretence, and not in truth.  How much more then
                    should we rejoice in the preaching of  the gospel by those who do it in truth, yea, though it should be with
                    much weakness and some mistake." (Henry, VI:728)

II. THE FRAGRANCE OF  THE GOSPEL--vv. 19-21
     A. Christ Does Deliver--v. 19
          1. Paul's confidence
               a. Expected his release from prison
                    (I) "For his release from prison as he strongly hopes to see them again." (Robertson, IV:439)
                    (II) Cf. verse 26
               b. Can also mean the advance of  the message of  salvation.
                    (I) "Observe, God can bring good out of  evil; and what does not turn to the salvation of  the ministers may
                         yet, by the grace of  God, be made to turn to the salvation of  the people." (Henry, VI:728)
                    (II) "But from the context it must refer to his own spiritual good--his own fruitfulness for Christ and
                         glorification of  Him, whether by his life or death--and so eventually his own salvation, in degree of
                         blessedness, not in relation to the absolute fact itself." (Alford, III:159; italics are his.)
          2. Their prayer
               a. Prayer accomplishes great things.
                    (I) This is why this writer thinks Paul's release from prison is in view.
                    (II) Recall Peter being in prison, and the church was in prayer, God sent His angel for his release.
                    (III) "That he may stir them up to pray more ardently, he declares that he is confident that the Lord will give
                         them an answer to their prayers." (Calvin, 40)
               b. "The prayers of  the people may bring a supply of  the Spirit to their ministers, to support them in suffering, as
                    well as in preaching the gospel." (Henry, VI:728)
          3. The supply
               a. The spiritual aspect
                    (I) This phrase cause many to think that a spiritual sense is intended here rather than a physical deliverance.
                    (II) "Whatever turns to our salvation is by the supply or the aids and assistance of  the Spirit of  Christ; and
                         prayer is the appointed means of  fetching in that supply." (Ibid.)
               b. The physical aspect
                    (I) In a real sense all supply, spiritual or physical, is from Christ.
                    (II) Paul's physical deliverance is as dependent on Christ working as in our spiritual salvation.
                    (III) Robertson well asks--"Can it be that Paul carried both conceptions in the word here?" (Robertson,
                         IV:439)
     B. Christ Is Magnified--v. 20
          1. Paul's hope
               a. His ernest expectation
                    (I) occurs only here and in Romans 8:19
                    (II) Meaning--"A watching with the head erect or outstretched. Hence a waiting in suspense." (Vincent,
                         III:92; italics are his.)
                    (III) Illus:  Waiting for a parade to come by.
              b. His hope
                   (I) Cf. Romans 5:3-5a
                   (II) "Let, therefore, all the pious entertain hope after Paul's example, and they will not be put to shame."
                        (Calvin, 41)
          2. Paul's desire
               a. In nothing ashamed
                    (I) "Have reason to take shame for my work for God, or His work in me." (Alford, III:160)
                    (II) Cf. Romans 1:16
               b. In everything boldness
                    (I) "It is much for the glory of  Christ that we should serve him boldly and not be ashamed of  him, with
                         freedom and liberty of  mind, and without discouragement:  that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that
                         with all boldness Christ may be magnified.  The boldness of  Christians is the honour of  Christ."
                         (Henry, VI:728; italics are his.)
                    (II) This is the opposite of  fear.
                    (III) "Boldness on my part, seeing that life or death are both alike glorious for me--and thus I, my body, the
                         passive instrument in which Christ is glorified, shall any-how be bold and of  good cheer in this His
                         glorification of  Himself in me." (Alford, III:160; italics are his.)
          3. Paul's aim
               a. Christ magnified
                    (I) "Those who make Christ's glory their desire and design may make it their expectation and hope.  If  it be
                         truly aimed at, it shall certainly be attained." (Henry, VI:728)
                    (II) This is more than that He should be praised (which certainly is included), but that He should be great.
               b. Christ magnified in the body
                    (I) "It is harder often to make Christ great in the body than in the spirit." (Robertson, IV:440)
                    (II) In the church, this can be accomplished by observing whatever is set forth in the preached word.
                    (III) "Those who desire that Christ may be magnified in their bodies have a holy indifference whether it be by
                         life or by death.  They refer it to him which way be will make them serviceable to his glory, whether by
                         their labours or sufferings, by their diligence or patience, by their living to his honour in working for him or
                         dying to his honour in suffering for him." (Henry, VI:728; italics are his.)
     C. Christ Is Lived--v. 21
          1. To live is Christ.
               a. For to me
                    (I) Emphatic--"Whatever life may be to others, to me, etc." (Vincent, III:423; italics are his.)
                    (II) This is Paul's view of  living.
               b. Life is Christ
                    (I) "It is the undoubted character of  every good Christian that to him to live is Christ.  The glory of  Christ
                         ought to be the end of  our life; the grace of  Christ the principle of  our life, and the word of  Christ the
                         rule of  it.  The Christian life is derived from Christ, and directed to him." (Henry, VI:729)
                    (II) Literally--"The living is Christ. . . . . He has no thought of life apart from Christ." (Vincent, III:423; italics
                         are his.)
                    (III) All my life, all my energy, all my time. is His--I live Christ." (Alford, III:160; italics are his.)
                    (IV) Cf. Galatians 2:20
                    (V) Calvin--"I, on the other hand, make Christ the subject of  discourse in both clauses, so that he is declared
                         to be gain to him both in life and in death." (Calvin, 41)
          2. To die is gain.
               a. Our death
                    (I) Believers have already died with Christ.
                         (A) Cf. Romans 6
                         (B) Cf. Galatians 2:20
                         (C) Others
                    (II) Therefore, whether we be alive or dead, we are IN Christ.
               b. Our gain
                    (I) "Gain. As consummating the union with Christ (Vincent, 423; bold type is his.)
                    (II) Our gain will be to be with Him.
                    (III) "All those to whom to live is Christ to them to die will be gain:  it is great gain, a present gain, everlasting
                         gain.  Death is a great loss to a carnal worldly man; for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes:  but to a
                         good Christian it is gain, for it is the end of  all his weakness and misery and the perfection of  his comforts
                         and accomplishment of  his hopes; it delivers him from all the evils of  life, and brings him to the
                         possession of  the chief good." (Henry, VI:729; Italics are his.)

     This writer, on this web page, has been looking at REJOICING IN PREACHING, Philippians 1:12-21.  You have seen
"The furtherance of  the gospel" set forth in verses 12-18, and "The fragrance of  the gospel" as discussed in verses 19-21.
     What is your life?  Is it a fragrance?  Is it Christ and Christ alone?  If  so, then your life will further the gospel.
     If your life is not a fragrance, then you are dead in sin.  You need to be made alive by faith in Jesus Christ.  Will you do it today, and become a sweet odor for Christ?  If  you need help, go to How to Be Saved; then trust Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.