Philippians 1:15 kjv
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Philippians 1:15 nkjv
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:
Philippians 1:15 niv
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
Philippians 1:15 esv
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
Philippians 1:15 nlt
It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives.
Philippians 1 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Motives in Ministry / Paul's Perspective | ||
| Php 1:18 | "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice." | Paul's joy in Christ's proclamation, despite motives. |
| 1 Cor 9:17 | "If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not voluntarily, I am simply entrusted with a stewardship." | Stewardship and differing motivations in preaching. |
| 2 Cor 4:5 | "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord..." | Focus of true preaching is Christ, not self. |
| 1 Pet 5:2 | "Shepherd the flock of God... not under compulsion, but willingly; not for dishonest gain, but eagerly;" | Right motives for ministry leaders. |
| 1 Tim 3:3 | "not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money." | Character traits opposite of envy/rivalry for leaders. |
| Titus 1:7 | "For the overseer must be above reproach... not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine..." | Leadership requires character without selfishness. |
| 1 Th 2:5 | "For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed..." | Pure motives in apostolic ministry. |
| Rom 12:8 | "if it is exhortation, in the exhorting; if he gives, with liberality; if he leads, with diligence; if he shows mercy, with cheerfulness." | Implies purity of motive in exercising spiritual gifts. |
| Mt 7:22-23 | "Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not... cast out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles?’ Then I will declare... ‘I never knew you...'" | Doing spiritual works without true relationship or right motive. |
| Envy and Rivalry / Worldly Motivations | ||
| Php 2:3 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or from empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;" | Direct contrast to envy and rivalry, promotes humility. |
| Jas 3:14 | "But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth." | Bitter envy and selfish ambition are not of God. |
| Jas 3:16 | "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing." | Consequences of envy and rivalry are negative outcomes. |
| Gal 5:20-21 | "envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these..." | Envy is listed among works of the flesh. |
| Rom 13:13 | "Let us walk properly, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy." | Strife and jealousy are contrary to righteous living. |
| 1 Cor 3:3 | "For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?" | Division due to envy and strife is carnal. |
| 2 Cor 11:13 | "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ." | Those with ill motives may appear as genuine. |
| 2 Pet 2:3 | "and in their greed these will exploit you with false words;" | Greed and exploitative motives behind false teachings. |
| God's Sovereignty and Working through Imperfect Means | ||
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." | God's sovereignty can even use imperfect circumstances/motives for His purpose. |
| Jn 11:49-52 | "Caiaphas... prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation..." | Even an antagonist (Caiaphas) can be used by God for His purpose. |
| Isa 10:5-7 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger... Yet it does not so intend, nor does it plan so in its heart..." | God uses nations with evil intentions for His purposes. |
| Isa 45:7 | "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things." | God's ultimate sovereignty over all outcomes, even undesirable ones. |
| Acts 8:4 | "So then, those who were scattered abroad went about preaching the word." | Persecution, an evil act, led to the wider spread of the Gospel. |
| Christ's Proclamation as Primary Focus | ||
| 1 Cor 1:23 | "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness," | Christ crucified as the core message. |
| Col 1:28 | "We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ." | Christ is the one proclaimed for spiritual maturity. |
| Acts 4:12 | "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." | Exclusivity of salvation through Christ's name/proclamation. |
Philippians 1 verses
Philippians 1 15 Meaning
Philippians 1:15 reveals a complex reality within the early Christian community, where even the proclamation of Christ, the very heart of the Gospel, could be undertaken with mixed and even ill intentions. Paul acknowledges that some individuals preach Christ from motives rooted in envy and rivalry, possibly aiming to cause him distress or elevate their own status. In contrast, others proclaim Christ out of genuine good will, driven by sincere devotion and love for the Gospel. Despite these divergent motivations, Paul's focus remains steadfastly on the fact that Christ is being proclaimed, a truth in which he finds deep joy and affirmation of the Gospel's advance.
Philippians 1 15 Context
Philippians 1:15 occurs early in Paul's letter, a letter characterized by joy despite challenging circumstances (Paul is imprisoned, v. 7). Paul begins by affirming his partnership with the Philippians in the Gospel (v. 5) and expressing confidence in God's work among them (v. 6). From verse 12 onwards, Paul explains that his imprisonment, rather than hindering the Gospel, has actually served to advance it. His chains have become known as for Christ, emboldening other believers to speak the word without fear (v. 13-14). Verse 15 then elaborates on how this emboldening manifested in different types of proclamation within the Christian community in Rome, where Paul was likely imprisoned. Some saw his confinement as an opportunity to genuinely serve, while others viewed it as a chance to undermine his influence or pursue their own agenda, even using the Gospel as a tool. The historical context indicates potential rivalry among various factions or individual teachers within the Roman church, perhaps those who held differing theological views or personal ambitions, vying for influence during Paul's absence or weakened state. Paul's magnanimous response transcends these human failings, prioritizing the message over the messenger's imperfect motives.
Philippians 1 15 Word analysis
- Some indeed: The Greek particle μὲν (men) implies a contrasting "on the one hand" that sets up the "but others" (δὲ, de) later in the verse. It indicates distinct groups or motivations, not necessarily a polemic against the content of their preaching but certainly their character and method.
- preach: The Greek word is κηρύσσουσιν (kērussousin), from κηρύσσω (kērussō). This verb means "to herald, proclaim, announce publicly and authoritatively." It signifies the public declaration of a message. Its consistent use here underscores that despite varying motives, the essential act of proclaiming Christ was indeed occurring.
- Christ: Χριστὸν (Christon). This is the direct object of "preach," signifying the central subject of their proclamation. The message, at least on the surface, was doctrinally sound in focusing on Jesus Christ.
- from envy: The Greek word is φθόνον (phthonon), meaning "envy, jealousy, grudging desire, ill will." It indicates a hostile and self-serving motivation, possibly stemming from resentment of Paul's influence or success, or a desire to gain personal prominence by comparison. It points to a deep-seated spiritual ailment.
- and rivalry: The Greek word is ἔριν (erin), meaning "strife, contention, dissension, dispute." Often used in lists of vices, it implies a spirit of competition or conflict. Combined with "envy," it describes those who use the proclamation of Christ as a means to achieve personal dominance or to antagonize others, perhaps even Paul himself, hoping to add to his affliction (Php 1:16). This term highlights an aggressive, competitive motive.
- but others: The contrasting group to "some indeed," highlighting two distinct types of individuals or factions engaged in the same activity (preaching Christ) but with diametrically opposed motivations.
- from good will: The Greek phrase is δι’ εὐδοκίαν (di' eudokian), literally "through/by good pleasure, approval, benevolence, kind intent." It speaks to a pure, sincere, and loving motivation. This group's actions stem from a genuine desire for the Gospel to advance and perhaps to support Paul, bringing encouragement rather than distress. This motive is aligned with the Spirit of Christ.
Philippians 1 15 Bonus section
The "some" driven by envy and rivalry could represent various factions or individuals in the Roman church. They might have been:
- Legalists: Jewish Christians who insisted on Gentile conversion to Mosaic law, viewing Paul's broader Gospel message as too liberal, and seizing his imprisonment as an opportunity to undermine him and advance their own stricter agenda.
- Competitors: Individuals or groups who saw Paul's absence or weakened state as a chance to increase their own prominence, wanting to "out-preach" or establish a reputation distinct from Paul's.
- Well-meaning but misguided believers: Even genuinely regenerated people can struggle with envy and fleshly desires (1 Cor 3:3). Their flawed character, though perhaps not intentionally malicious, led them to serve from imperfect motives.
Paul's joy in Phil 1:18, where he reiterates his rejoice "that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed," serves as the interpretative key for verse 15. This illustrates Paul's freedom from self-pity and his prioritization of the Kingdom's advance over personal comfort or recognition. This attitude highlights an important boundary: while impure motives are sin, God, in His sovereignty, is able to take human imperfections and still achieve His purposes. This does not excuse sin, but reveals the vastness of divine grace and power. Paul here exemplifies a deep Christ-centeredness that allows him to overlook personal offense for the sake of the Gospel.
Philippians 1 15 Commentary
Philippians 1:15 offers a profound insight into Paul's spiritual maturity and unwavering focus on Christ's kingdom. It reveals the complex internal dynamics of the early church, where human ambition, jealousy, and rivalry could exist alongside genuine devotion within the very act of Gospel proclamation. The paradox lies in God's ability to use even impure motives for His ultimate glory and the advancement of His Gospel. Paul does not condone the bad motives; indeed, elsewhere he strongly condemns envy and strife as works of the flesh (Gal 5:20-21). However, his reaction here is not one of condemnation, but of joy that Christ is proclaimed. This perspective elevates the Gospel message above the flaws of its messengers, demonstrating Paul's Christ-centered magnanimity. It underscores a key theological truth: God is sovereign and can weave together even negative human actions into His greater redemptive plan (Rom 8:28). This verse serves as a powerful reminder that while we must strive for purity of heart and motive in ministry (1 Pet 5:2), God's work is not ultimately dependent on perfect human agents. It encourages believers to focus on the essential truth of Christ being proclaimed, rather than being unduly distracted or disheartened by the imperfections, or even malevolence, within human efforts.
- Practical usage: A believer struggling with division in a local church can find solace that even in discord, God can use efforts that are focused on Christ. Leaders can learn from Paul's magnanimity, discerning true spiritual battlegrounds while maintaining focus on the central mission. It also challenges individuals to self-examine their own motives for serving God.