The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Parallel translations
- WEB The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;
- 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.
Quick answer
The ill-motivated preach Christ from selfish ambition, hoping to add to Paul's distress. Their aim is rivalry, not love.
Overview
These preachers proclaim the true message but with the wrong heart, trying to stir up trouble for the imprisoned apostle. Their selfish ambition contrasts sharply with the love Paul commends in the next verse. The passage warns that right doctrine can coexist with sinful motives.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 2 Cor 4:1–2Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
- 2 Cor 2:17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
- Phil 1:10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
- Job 6:14To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
- Phil 1:7Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
- Phil 1:12But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
- Ps 69:26For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
- Job 16:4I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
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