God’s Word Translation
Philippians 1:16
16Those who tell the message about Christ out of love know that God has put me here to defend the Good News.
Philippians 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
- New International Version (NIV)The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;
Context of Philippians 1:16
14So through my being in prison, the Lord has given most of our brothers and sisters confidence to speak God’s word more boldly and fearlessly than ever. 15Some people tell the message about Christ because of their jealousy and envy. Others tell the message about him because of their good will. Those who tell the message about Christ out of love know that God has put me here to defend the Good News. 17But the others are insincere. They tell the message about Christ out of selfish ambition in order to stir up trouble for me while I’m in prison. 18But what does it matter? Nothing matters except that, in one way or another, people are told the message about Christ, whether with honest or dishonest motives, and I’m happy about that. Yes, I will continue to be happy
Read all of Philippians 1Philippians 1:16 word by word
οἱ μὲν ἐξ ἀγάπης εἰδότες ὅτι εἰς ἀπολογίαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου κεῖμαι·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The oneὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- preachκαταγγέλλωkataggellō · to proclaimG2605
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- contentionἐριθείαeritheia · rivalryG2052
- notοὐou · noG3756
- sincerelyἁγνῶςhagnōs · purelyG55
- supposingοἴομαιoiomai oimai · to supposeG3633
- to addἐπιφέρωepipherō · to inflictG2018
- afflictionθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
- toδεσμόςdesmon desmos · chainG1199
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
Cross-references for Philippians 1:16
- Philippians 1:10That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17At least we don’t go around selling an impure word of God like many others. The opposite is true. As Christ’s spokesmen and in God’s presence, we speak the pure message that comes from God.
- 2 Corinthians 4:1We don’t become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through his mercy.
- Job 6:14“A friend should treat a troubled person kindly, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.
- Job 16:4I, too, could speak like you if we could trade places. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you.
- Psalms 69:26They persecute the one you have struck, and they talk about the pain of those you have wounded.
Commentaries on Philippians 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Preach Christ of contention - The Judaizing teachers, they also preach Christ; they acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ or promised Messiah, and preach him as such. Not sincerely - ̔· Not chastely, garbling the Gospel; not speaking the whole truth, but just what served their purpose; and at the same time they denounced the apostle as an enemy to the Divine institutions, because he spoke against circumcision.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16The one preach Christ of contention - So as to form parties, and to produce strifes among his professed followers. Not sincerely - Not “purely” - ̔͂ hagnōs- not with pure motives or intentions. Their real aim is not to preach Christ, but to produce difficulty, and to stir up strife. They are ambitious people, and they have no real regard for the welfare of the church and the honor of religion. Supposing to add affliction to my bonds - To make my trial…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-20Verses 12-20 The apostle was a prisoner at Rome; and to take off the offence of the cross, he shows the wisdom and goodness of God in his sufferings. These things made him known, where he would never have otherwise been known; and led some to inquire after the gospel. He suffered from false friends, as well as from enemies. How wretched the temper of those who preached Christ out of envy and contention, and to add affliction to the bonds that oppressed…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-18some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry: These people were likely other believers who did not like Paul and criticized him (see 2 Corinthians 10–13; Galatians 4:12–20; 5:7–12). Even so, the message about Christ was being preached, so Paul rejoiced.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1716-17. The oldest manuscripts transpose these verses, and read, "These (last) indeed out of love (to Christ and me), knowing (the opposite of 'thinking' below) that I am set (that is, appointed by God, 1Th 3:3) for the defense of the Gospel (Php 1:7, not on my own account). But the others out of contention (or rather, 'a factious spirit'; 'cabal'; a spirit of intrigue, using unscrupulous means to compass their end; 'self-seeking' [Alford]) proclaim (the…Read the comment
Topics related to Philippians 1:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Philippians 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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