Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News;
- KJV But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
- NKJV But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
- NASB Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,
- NLT And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul reassures them that his imprisonment has actually advanced the gospel. God turns apparent setbacks into gospel progress.
Overview
The Philippians might fear that Paul's chains had hindered the mission, but he reports the opposite. His circumstances, however grim, served to spread the Good News further. This reflects the biblical pattern of God working through suffering and weakness for His purposes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Tim 2:9for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
- Rom 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Acts 11:19–21Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
- Rom 8:37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
- Acts 22:1–30“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
- Acts 8:4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
- Esth 9:1On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them.
- Acts 28:1–31Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
- Ps 76:10Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.
- Exod 18:11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”
- Acts 21:28–36crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The one who, being in the form of God, emptied himself to the point of death on a cross and was exalted to the name above every name — the joy and prize of the believer.
How Philippians 1:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.