What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
Parallel translations
- WEB What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.
- KJV What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
- NKJV What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
- NASB What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. But not only that, I also will rejoice,
- NLT But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.
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 rejoices that Christ is proclaimed, whatever the motive. His joy rests in the gospel's advance, not his own reputation.
Overview
Remarkably, Paul refuses to let rivals rob him of joy; what matters is that Christ is preached. This shows a heart so centered on Christ's glory that personal slights become secondary. His settled resolve, "I will rejoice," models gospel-centered contentment under attack.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Luke 9:50“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
- Mark 9:38–40John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone else driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”
- 1 Cor 15:11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
- Phil 1:14–17And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
- 1 Cor 14:15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
- Matt 23:13Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
- 2 Jn 1:9–11Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.
- Mark 12:40They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
- 1 Cor 10:19Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
- Rom 6:15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!
- Rom 3:9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.
- Luke 9:45But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.
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 1:18 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.