the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
Parallel translations
- WEB The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;
- 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;
- 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, 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
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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
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.