Philippians 1 16

Philippians 1:16 kjv

The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

Philippians 1:16 nkjv

The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

Philippians 1:16 niv

The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

Philippians 1:16 esv

The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

Philippians 1:16 nlt

They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News.

Philippians 1 verses

Philippians 1 16 Meaning

Philippians 1:16 describes one of two groups of people proclaiming Christ. This specific group preaches with corrupt motives: driven by selfish ambition and lacking pure intentions. Their underlying aim is not for the glory of God or the edification of believers, but rather to cause affliction or distress for the Apostle Paul, particularly while he is suffering imprisonment for the Gospel's sake. Despite their malevolent intent, Paul's focus remains on Christ being proclaimed, which he counts as a cause for joy.

Philippians 1 16 Context

This verse is situated within Paul's letter to the Philippians, written from his imprisonment, likely in Rome (though some suggest Ephesus or Caesarea). In Philippians chapter 1, Paul expresses joy and gratitude despite his chains, assuring the Philippians that his imprisonment has actually advanced the Gospel (v.12). He then elaborates on how "most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord because of my chains and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear" (v.14). Verse 15 introduces two distinct groups of preachers: one group preaches Christ "out of envy and rivalry" (which sets the stage for v.16's elaboration on their selfish ambition), and another group preaches "out of goodwill." Philippians 1:16 specifically identifies and describes the motivations of the "former" group. This immediate context reveals Paul's remarkable perspective: he recognizes the diverse and sometimes impure motivations behind gospel proclamation, yet prioritizes the spread of Christ's name above his personal comfort or vindication. Historically, in the Roman Empire, competition and client-patron relationships were common. Even within early Christian communities, personal rivalries or attempts to undermine influential leaders like Paul could arise, especially during his perceived vulnerability in prison. These antagonists might have sought to diminish Paul's standing or gain followers for themselves by contrasting their freedom to preach with his imprisonment, hoping to stir up opposition or increase his suffering.

Philippians 1 16 Word analysis

• The former: Refers back to one of the two groups of preachers mentioned in verse 15. The Greek original, οἱ μέν (hoi men), means "some" or "these (ones)" in contrast to "others" (οἱ δέ - hoi de) mentioned in the following verse. It clearly identifies a specific faction within the Christian community in Rome or wherever Paul was imprisoned.
• preach: From the Greek καταγγέλλουσιν (katangelō), meaning "to proclaim, announce, make known publicly, preach." This signifies a formal, deliberate act of spreading the message of Christ. It implies their message content itself was indeed Christian, but their motive was corrupted.
• Christ: Greek τὸν Χριστόν (ton Christon). This is the absolute center of their proclamation. The content is orthodox (Christ), but the intent behind it is not. Paul's emphasis on Christ being proclaimed highlights that even flawed agents can contribute to God's purpose.
• out of selfish ambition: From Greek ἐξ ἐριθείας (ex eritheias). Eritheia originally denoted working for pay (mercenary labor) but evolved in Hellenistic Greek to mean "faction, rivalry, contention," often for self-promotion, status, or partisan advantage, especially in politics. It carries the nuance of intrigue or dishonest means to gain office, rather than noble competition. This contrasts sharply with humility and true service to God.
• not sincerely: Greek οὐχ ἁγνῶς (ouch hagnōs). Hagnos means "purely, blamelessly, sincerely, honorably." The negation "not purely" emphasizes the tainted nature of their motives. Their actions were hypocritical, driven by ulterior agendas rather elicitous of genuine love for Christ or humanity.
• supposing: Greek οἰόμενοι (oiomenoi), a participle of oiomai, meaning "to think, suppose, imagine, expect." This indicates their intention or miscalculation; they held an expectation about the outcome of their actions, specifically concerning Paul.
• that they can cause me trouble: Greek θλῖψιν ἐγείρειν (thlipsis egeirein). Thlipsis (trouble, affliction, tribulation, distress, pressure) refers to suffering or hardship. Egeirein means "to stir up, arouse, create." Their desire was to exacerbate Paul's suffering, to add burden to his existing chains.
• while I am in chains: Greek τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου (tois desmois mou), literally "my bonds/chains." This refers directly to Paul's imprisonment. The situation makes him appear vulnerable, which these adversaries sought to exploit, perhaps believing their preaching (even if Christ-centered) could further restrict his influence, diminish his reputation, or provoke authorities against him, thereby worsening his imprisonment.

Words-group analysis:

• "The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely": This phrase precisely defines the nature of their corrupt ministry. It’s not about their message (Christ is indeed proclaimed), but their motive. It highlights the internal state that drives external action and its spiritual implications, exposing hypocrisy within the Christian community.
• "supposing that they can cause me trouble while I am in chains": This reveals the malicious and calculated intent behind their "ministry." They saw Paul's vulnerable state as an opportunity to further their own agenda, believing that by increasing their profile (or by their perceived challenge to Paul's authority), they could exacerbate his afflictions. It demonstrates a profound lack of empathy and Christ-like love towards a fellow believer and apostle.

Philippians 1 16 Bonus section

The content of what many translations (e.g., KJV, ESV, NASB) identify as Philippians 1:16 is indeed "The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add affliction to my chains." However, some modern translations, notably the NIV (2011 edition), reverse the order of the two groups mentioned in verses 15-17. In the NIV, the statement "The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition..." is placed in 1:17, while 1:16 describes the "goodwill" preachers. This reordering is a textual decision based on scholarly considerations, as some ancient manuscripts presented the clauses differently. Despite this numbering variation, the content and the theological truths it conveys remain consistent across manuscripts and translations: there were those who proclaimed Christ with ill will toward Paul and impure motivations, even while he was imprisoned for the Gospel. Paul's remarkable perspective here is pivotal: he focuses on the fact that "Christ is proclaimed" (v.18) above all, revealing a deep theological trust in God's sovereignty to use even flawed human endeavors for His ultimate glory and the advance of His kingdom. This highlights Paul's profound humility and self-abnegation; his own comfort and reputation were secondary to Christ being made known.

Philippians 1 16 Commentary

Philippians 1:16 peels back the veneer of Christian proclamation, exposing the motivations lurking beneath. While the central figure proclaimed is "Christ"—an ostensibly commendable act—the motive is fatally flawed: "selfish ambition" and a lack of "sincerity." These are not simply character flaws but grave spiritual dangers that distort ministry into a vehicle for self-promotion and personal animosity. Paul's adversaries did not necessarily preach heresy; they preached Christ, yet their desire was to gain advantage, potentially by diminishing Paul's standing, adding "trouble" to his "chains," or inciting further legal or social difficulties for him. This reveals the subtle complexities within early Christianity: even those spreading the Gospel could do so from corrupted, un-Christlike hearts. Yet, Paul's remarkable response, later summarized in verse 18, shows his unwavering focus on the advancement of the Gospel. For Paul, the purity of Christ's proclamation, regardless of the preacher's tainted motive, still ultimately served God's purpose. His focus was on the objective triumph of the message, not the subjective flaws of its messenger.