What does this Bible passage mean?

Question

Philippians 1:15-18 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of goodwill:
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. What then? Notwithstanding every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached: and I therein do rejoice, yea and will rejoice.

Answer 1

This passage addresses the issue of why some people preach the Gospel.

Some people preach because of envy...perhaps they envy another preacher.

Some people preach out of strife.

... but some preach from good will (no negative reason)

Some preach out of selfish ambition (money or liking people to follow and obey what they say)

But some preach out of love.

The people that preach for selfishness add to Paul's afflictions and the people that preach because of love please him

But...Paul rejoices that even though people are preaching for wrong motives, selfish reasons...the gospel is being preached.
__________
That reminds me of those T.V. preachers that say, "God has laid it on my heart...someone needs a healing...but you must be faithful! God wants to test your heart...do you love money more than God? God wants you to prove your devotions...give, give, give .... send in that 1,000.00. God wants to heal you, but do you trust God?"

Yes, they are sharlitons...Yes, they are doing it for the money...
but God uses the message of the Gospel and converts people even through fakes.

Praise God for that.

Answer 2

1:15-18 Christ is proclaimed, though from differing motives

15,17 The next great fact on which the apostle would dwell was that Christ was being proclaimed. He must report, however, that there were differing motives in the proclamation. Some think that those who preached Christ from envy and rivalry were the Judaizers who are mentioned in 3:2. Paul does not, however, criticize the content of their preaching. These people did not proclaim wrong doctrine, but they had a wrong spirit of partisanship. Perhaps they were the Christians who were in Rome before paul came and now they were jealous of the success of his preaching, determined to outdo him, and willing to cause him anguish and offence in his imprisonment. 16. On the other hand there were those who proclaimed Christ with single-minded love for their Lord, and love for the apostle, realizing that he was in prison for his own faithfulness to the gospel. 18. Paul 'had lifted the matter beyond all personalities; all that mattered was that Christ was preached.

Answer 3

There were those preaching for money.
There were thos preaching to cause trouble.
There were those preaching because they believed.
He thanks God that they were all preaching Jesus, although their motives were different.
That Jesus was proclaimed he rejoices.

Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.

From a different version:
Phil 1:15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;
Phil 1:16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
Phil 1:17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
Phil 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.

Answer 4

Paul was a prisoner at Rome when he wrote this. He is writing to encourage the Phillipians.

PHIL 1.12. But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14. And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.


The above verses tell us that there are many believers speaking the word without fear.

vs 15 - 17 Describe the same thing, just using different words.

Much as it is today.... . One is preaching about God (while not really believing it ) trying to stir up the Romans. (This one is trying to make it harder for Paul to be released)
The other speaks of God's love, trying to prepare the hearts of the Romans when Paul defends himself.

vs 18

Paul says either way people (even the rulers see vs.13) are hearing about Christ, and he rejoices over this.

Most things are not impossible to understand in the Bible. We just have to read before and after most texts to get an understanding of them.

Hope this helps a little.

Answer 5

"Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice..."

Hopefully this translation is a little clearer for you! I believe Paul is saying that some people preach the gospel with the intent to glorify ones self instead of glorifying God, but either way, God uses the opportunity to glorify Himself. God can even use people with bad intentions for good!

Answer 6

Good Question!
Paul (who is in prison) is writing to the Christians in Philippi who are evidently asking about other missionaries who seem to have mixed motives in their preaching.
Some of the preachers are motivated by having the largest following - they are envious of those who have large followings, while others are simply trying to follow Jesus' commandment to share the gospel with all people.
Some folk are preaching, trying to become a greater preacher than Paul, but Paul is saying - it doesn't matter - if Christ is preached, it is reason for rejoicing.
This is good news for us - the same types of mixed motives exist in Christians today, but God uses us anyway, and it is reason for rejoicing whenever people accept Jesus Christ, whether is through a Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God or independent Bible Church.

Answer 7

i think paul is saying many preach of christ in the wrong way and cause envy and strife some caues contention which jesus said we should avoid many religions in the past were used to keep the people down the real way is of love and that is the way christs teachings should be taught many men have perverted christs teaching for there own ends

Answer 8

This is a passage from a letter written to the early church leaders in Phillipia. They had written to Paul earlier with questions about church operations and keeping the faith. In this letter Paul is answering those question. Unfortunately we do not have the original letters so we do not know the specific questions or the tone of the original letter, therefore the letter is really just an historical document rather than a teaching document.

What I mean to say is that the Pauline letters are not really meant to teach "Christianity" . The first 5 books are usually considered to be the "Teaching" books and the remainder of the New Testiment is meant to document the politics and origin of the first "Catholic" church.

Good Luck!

Answer 9

Sadly, you get a lot of people using God as a weapon. Hence all the wars and hate.

St. Paul is telling us this is BAD. "some preach Christ out of envy. some preach Christ out of contention."

St. Paul is telling us that those who evangelize with hostile intention cause pain to other Christians. "add affliction to my bonds."

Answer 10

I think it means that some people preach the gospel with bad motives... but the words still end up saving people and glorifying Jesus despite the people preaching.

I know sometimes even cults and preachers who were not really believers have influenced people positively toward the gospel