Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 7

Paul Rejoices that Christ is Preached despite some people’s Motive

Philippians 1:16-18 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 pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. KJV

It is disheartening to imagine someone or to think of someone preaching Jesus Christ without desiring or wanting His Name and Power to be known to the lost sinful world of human beings, but this is exactly what the Apostle Paul declares to these Philippian believers and we believers today when he says, “The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds” (Philippians 1:16). These men were not the Judaizers as we declared in the last study because they cared only for their outward observance of the Mosaic Law and entirely nothing for preaching Jesus Christ Crucified. Therefore, these men were a different group or faction who exemplified a fake fervor for Christ and His Gospel when their motive was purely from envy and jealousy of the connection, comradery, and caring the Apostle Paul had from all the Churches. These men did not have love for Christ or for His Church so they preached Christ Name from contention for the Apostle Paul. This English word contention is translated by the Greek word eritheia which means intrigue or fascination or by implication a faction, that is, they were a dissenting clique or circle of people (in the Church) who sought power and control. In other words, these men did not preach Christ because they loved Him and wanted to show their love and gratitude by making known to everyone the grace of God through the Cross of Christ, but they were only motivated by gaining and getting power to themselves. Paul declares they did it “not sincerely” and this English word sincerely is translated by the Greek word hagnos (this is the only time this word is used in the New Testament) which means purely, that is, honestly.

Whether or not these mean had been truly redeemed/born again or not only our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ knows as Paul declared to Brother Timothy with these words concerning some men he knew during his day, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:14-26).

However, the vessels of honor preached Christ Crucified form a heart of love and gratitude for our Lord Jesus Christ and with a sincere love for the servant of Christ their Brother the Apostle Paul as he declared with these words, “But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the Gospel” (Philippians 1:17). These Brothers and Sisters “in Christ” were motivated by God the Father’s agape love poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), they were not interested in power, greed, or anything else but making Jesus Christ known to the world they occupied. Also, because they knew the Apostle Paul was appointed by Christ (plucked out of Judaism) to defend the Gospel of Grace. These Philippian believers observed Paul and saw a sincerity in him to declare the Gospel of Christ wherever he was and in whatever circumstance he was in, for they knew Paul’s motivation was not for notoriety, fame, or fortune as others (2 Corinthians 2:17), but purely from his love and gratitude to Jesus Christ for forgiving his sin. As the Apostle Paul was so apt to do, he warned these Philippian believers shortly after their conversion to Christ of the opposition to the Gospel they would encounter in the world and reminded them in this very same letter latter on in this Chapter just as he did with the Thessalonian believers when he said, “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you --- therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-7).

Having made known to them the truth of those in their midst who were sincere and those who were insincere in their motives of preaching Christ, Paul ask and answers his own question, “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” (Philippians 1:18). The conclusion of the matter to the Apostle Paul was clear and that was that our Lord Jesus Christ was preached to sinners no matter the motive of the vessel, for Paul knew that our Lord Jesus would justly judge the motives of men and women declaring His Name and give out proper rewards or penalty to all as Paul declared he would do to the Corinthian believers with these scathing words, “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbiting’s, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced” (2 Corinthians 2:20-21). It was Paul’s joy to see all those who proclaimed Christ walking and living in His love and that is what rejoiced his heart, but even those who wanted to cause him grief and anxiety while he was confined in Rome could not diminish the joy he found in the fact that the Name of Jesus Christ was proclaimed period.

My own Personal Note: “The Apostle Paul was a man with a nature just like ours as was the Prophet Elijah (James 5:17), yet he was motivated by love for our Lord Jesus Christ and grateful to Him for his salvation, so much so, that he endured much affliction, even that which came to him by virtue of his own brethren. The fact that others preached Christ due to their jealousy of him did nothing to cause him pain or sorrow, but he rejoiced that despite the ill-motives the Name of Christ was proclaimed because Paul knew that bitter envy and self-seeking doesn’t come from above, but instead is earthy and sensual which causes confusion and every evil thing, however, those that preached Christ from a pure heart with a pure motive of love and gratitude to Him walked and lived in that wisdom that comes only from above.”

“The preaching of Christ is the joy of all who wish well to His kingdom among men. Since it may tend to the good of many, we ought to rejoice in it, though it be done in pretense, and not in reality. It is God’s prerogative to judge of the principles men act upon; this is out of our line. Paul was so far from envying those who had liberty to preach the Gospel while he was under confinement that he rejoiced in the preaching of it even by those who do it in pretense, and not in truth. How much more then should we rejoice in the preaching of the Gospel by those who do it in truth, yea, though it should be with much weakness and some mistake!” Matthew Henry

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…