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Philippians 1:16

The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;
Philippians 1:16 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
  • BSB The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
  • NKJV The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;
  • NASB the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
  • NLT They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend 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.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • 2 Cor 4:1–2Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.
  • 2 Cor 2:17For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
  • Phil 1:10so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ;
  • Job 6:14“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
  • Phil 1:7It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.
  • Phil 1:12Now 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;
  • Ps 69:26For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.
  • Job 16:4I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Philippians videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Philippians 1:16YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PhilippiansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 1:16 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.