Philippians 1:12-21 “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.

Philippians 1:12-21 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Verse 12: “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;” “But I would ye would understand” – Paul wanted the Philippians to understand that his bonds led to a greater witness “Have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” – Paul’s imprisonment did not hinder his ministry of intercession, evangelism, or writing

Verse 13: “So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;” “So that my bonds in Christ” – Paul’s bonds were in connection with Christ and His cause “Are manifest in all the palace” – The guards watching over Paul became objects of his witness for Christ

Verse 14: “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds” – Paul’s courage was contagious “Are much more bold to speak” – The brethren witnessed with increased zeal

Verse 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” – They had the right message, but the wrong motive “And some also of good will” – These brethren have the right message with the right motive

Verse 16: “The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:” “The one preach Christ of contention” – Self-seeking, the desire to put one’s self forward, self-ambition “Not sincerely” – Not purely, not chaste, not modest, not immaculate

Verse 17: “But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.” They differ in their hearts – Contention / Love for Christ They differ in spirit – Envy and strife / Good will They differ in strength – Love of party / Confidence in the Lord They differ in their aim – Advance the church / Advance the cause of Christ They differ in conviction – To add affliction to Paul / Knows that Paul is set for the defense of the gospel

Verse 18: “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” “What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense or in truth” – Paul could not condone false teaching, but graciously tolerated wrong motives “Christ is preached” – Paul was bound, but the Word of God was not bound II Timothy 2:9 – “Wherin I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even onto bonds, but the word of God is not bound.”

Verse 18: “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” “And I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” I Corinthians 2:2 – “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

Verse 19: “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation” – Paul is speaking of his deliverance and preservation Romans 5:3 – “Tribulation worketh patience” II Corinthians 4:17 – “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Philippians 4:11 – “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

Verse 19: “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” “Through your prayer” – Paul depended on the intercession of God’s people

Verse 20: “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” “According to my earnest expectation” – To wait for in suspense, anxious anticipation, persistent expectation “That in nothing I shall be ashamed” – Put to shame or disgraced “But that with all boldness” – Fearless, confidence, cheerful courage “As always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body” – Paul desires that he be an instrument for God’s glory “Whether it be by life, or by death” – Here we see the depth of Paul’s commitment

Verse 21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” “For me to live is Christ” Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

Verse 21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” “For me to live is Christ” “And to die is gain” – Death does not interrupt our conscious fellowship with Christ “The moment of absence here is the moment of presence there.” II Corinthians 5:8 – “To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

“For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.”