Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 6

Paul Rejoices that Christ is Preached because of his Imprisonment

Philippians 1:14-15 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: KJV

Paul being confined physically, but not spiritually or emotionally (as we learned in the previous study) now documents his joy upon getting the news that “many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more-bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:14). This boldness “in Christ” was the pattern of the great Apostle Paul’s entire life after his encounter with our Lord Jesus on the Damascus road (Acts 9). Nothing could have lifted the spirits of Paul more than finding out that his boldness in preaching Christ Crucified brought that same boldness to many other followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. The fact that Paul says “many of the brethren in the Lord” may mean that an abundance of written letters made their way through to him while he was imprisoned in Rome. Paul surely would have been greatly satisfied by the testimonies from fellow brethren seeing how what came upon him daily was his deep concern for all the Churches of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:28). Or perhaps it was the personal testimony of those fellow brethren who were allowed to visit the Apostle Paul during the course of the two (2) years he was bound in chains to a Roman Guard in the rental house where he was confined (Acts 28:30-31). The English phrase “waxing confident” is translated by one Greek word peitho which is a primary verb that means to convince (by argument, true or false); to rely (by inward certainty): - assure, have confidence, and persuade. Because these other believers witnessed Paul’s boldness and steadfastness for Christ, they themselves were inspired by him to go out proclaiming Christ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead for sinners. They also were more confident and more courageous in seeing God the Father’s Hand of protection, provision, and power over the life of the Apostle Paul, it gave them an abundance of boldness for Christ.

The Philippian brethren were reassured by their witness of the comfort by which the Apostle Paul received from the Throne of Grace upon which our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ sits upon and the spirit of fear held no power over them just as they saw Paul conquer the spirit of fear even if it meant his imprisonment or death as we recall these words spoken by Paul as recorded for us by Dr. Luke, “And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ‘What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, ‘The will of the Lord be done.’” (Acts 21:10-14). Paul’s joy was in the fact that the majority of the brethren found this more abundant boldness because of his bonds as he declared with these words written to the believers in Thessalonica, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-4).

Despite Paul’s joy that Christ was being preached, he acknowledges that, “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:” (Philippians 1:15). The fact that Christ was being preached throughout the land while Paul was confined or bound in chains to different Roman Guards was comforting to the Apostle Paul even if some were doing so to cause him more aggravation, adversity, and affliction while he was confined by the Romans. Those who preached Christ of envy and strife were jealous of the affection and adoration Paul received from the Churches and they wanted that for themselves, so they thought that they would cause Paul more harm during his confinement or even cause him to be put to death by the Romans. The Word of God has real language when describing the twin evils of envy and strife as it is written with these words, “A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30) or these words, “Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy?” (Proverbs 27:4) also these words, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.” (Song of Solomon 8:6). These men wanting to hurt Paul by preaching Christ, not for love to Christ, or to Glorify God the Father will not go unpunished by God, nor will their intention to thwart the Gospels effect in the world or to hurt the Apostle of God Paul by trying to steal away credit from him to themselves for the Gospels success in the Gentile world the very heart of Roman rule.

These men who carried out this extremely wicked act are not known, but many Bible Commentators believe it to be the Judaizers, but I disagree with this assumption because those Jews were never interested in preaching the Gospel at all and certainly not to unconverted Gentiles because their goal was to steal away converts to Christ into the legalistic land of the Mosaic Law in Judaism as we are reminded by Dr. Luke one occasion at Antioch, “So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the Word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.” (Acts 13:42-50).

Now, unlike these deceitful men, those that truly loved and belonged to our Lord Jesus Christ preached the Gospel of Grace in order to be witness to the Holy Spirit bringing more sinners into the Kingdom of God making them newly born spiritual sons and daughters of God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ as Paul spoke of those believers in Philippi at the beginning of his letter with these words, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.” (Philippians 1:3-7).

My own Personal Note: “Despite the tremendous opposition the Apostle Paul faced in Philippi, he did not let that deter him from preaching Christ Crucified as the only way to forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Heaven, even when Paul had moved on from Philippi to Thessalonica he recounted his afflictions there to the people of Thessalonica with these words to let them know also that there is nothing that the devil can bring against him that will detour from his mission for Christ, ‘But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the Gospel of God in much conflict.’ (1 Thessalonians 2:2).”

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…