Philippians 1:12-18, Part 3

The passage gets especially interesting in the next few verses as Paul elaborates on the proclamation of most of the “brothers” (14a) by laying bare two different types of motives. What’s important to remember—and what’s especially instructive for what it teaches about God—is that Paul is still describing the advance of the gospel. This is not a detour.

Possibly as some of the Philippians had heard (a conjecture on my part, but see “indeed,” v. 15a) Paul had rivals within the community of Christians. These brothers do speak the word about Christ’s lordship but do so for very wrong reasons—out of a spirit of envy (v. 15a). Two verses down, Paul delineates their hopes even further: Such envy and rivalry motivates them to “proclaim Christ” and they do so “not sincerely but hoping to afflict me in my imprisonment” (17b).

Was their aim to bring additional physical punishment upon Paul because somehow he, as leader of this band of Christians, was held accountable for their activities? Or in his imprisonment were they seeking to stage a coup and usurp his authority and thus cause him mental anguish? It’s difficult to say. What can be said, though, is that unless they enjoyed some exemption, the evilness of their motives must have been pretty outstanding so as to cause them to risk their own torture, imprisonment, and death just to harm Paul. This makes Paul’s response to the situation below all the more remarkable.

[Does this group correspond in any way to those who, in chapter 3, Paul condemns for their confidence in the flesh? (There Paul explains the absurdity of such ill-placed hope.) If so, his rhetoric has sharpened its bite by shifting from a reference to “brothers” here to “dogs” (3.2) in that chapter.]

The other group of brothers are those who, for Paul, serve as the proper corrective to those preaching out of rivalry. This group preaches out of love (v. 16a, for God? for Christ? for Paul?). Before their own egos they put their love of God and trust for his plans: They understood that Paul had been chosen to “defend the gospel” (v. 16b). Unfortunately, even when it comes to announcing Christ’s salvation and lordship and serving the purposes of his kingdom, we can let ego get in the way.

In thinking of my own life it’s sobering how often screwed up motives lie behind what outwardly seem like good activities. Sometimes I act out of guilt, sometimes out of a sense of mere responsibility, sometimes, like those mentioned above, because of envy. Paul notes here that not all the "brothers" have good intentions at heart. But in defiance of those who would seek to afflict him, Paul observes that God's will is still being done, since Christ is being made known. God is sovereign.