Biblical Theology

NOTE: This is a condensed excerpt from my forthcoming (2014) commentary on Philippians.

Paul continues his description of those who preach Christ because of their delight in him by adding that they do it [i.e. preach Christ] out of love.[1] The fact that Paul does not further specify the object of this love suggests that the term should be understood in a very broad manner. He could be speaking of God’s love for his people and the world as the driving force behind preaching the gospel. In 2 Cor 5:14 describes his own motivation for ministry in terms of Christ’s love compelling him to action. Or Paul could have in mind the believer’s love for God. In Philemon 1:4-5 Paul expresses his gratitude to God “because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.” The overlap between the believer’s love for Christ and love for his people fits Philippians 1:16 nicely as well. Indeed, Paul can even claim that the entire Law is fulfilled in living out the command to love your neighbor as you love yourself (Gal 5:13-14). Finally, Paul could also have in mind their love for the gospel itself. Although Paul never explicitly speaks of loving the gospel, it is apparent from his life and letters that he loved the gospel because it revealed the good news of Jesus Christ and his redemption. Such love for Christ and the gospel led him to tireless labor in extremely difficult circumstances (cp. 1 Cor 4:9-13; 1 Thes 2:8-9). Because Paul has left the term so open-ended here in Phil 1:16, we would be wise not to specify too narrowly the kind of love Paul has in view. Those who truly love God and love others will share the gospel.

NOTE: This is a condensed excerpt from my forthcoming (2014) commentary on Philippians.

Paul identifies two groups in Rome who have been emboldened in their preaching of Christ because of his faithful witness while under house arrest. In the first group are those who do so from envy and rivalry, or perhaps better “because of envy and rivalry.”[1] Paul combines these two terms elsewhere to describe what life ruled by the flesh looks like (Rom 1:29; Gal 5:20-21; 1 Tim 6:4),[2] a clear indictment of these particular believers. The Greek word translated envy (phthonos) refers to “a state of ill will toward someone because of some real or presumed advantage experienced by such a person”;[3] it is “concerned more to deprive the other man of the desired thing than to gain it.”[4] The same expression occurs in Mark 15:10 to indicate the motives that led the chief priests to hand Jesus over to Pilate. In this context the envy of some who are now preaching Christ could stem from any number of things, including but not limited to: Paul’s recognized status as a leading figure, Paul’s obvious success, or even his notoriety for being a troublemaker. The Greek word translated rivalry (eris) is more difficult to translate; it refers to “conflict resulting from rivalry and discord.”[5] Thus although the word generally means conflict, the context here suggests the more specific sense of rivalry. These brothers are interested in establishing themselves and their ministries in competition with Paul; they are more interested in the expansion of their own ministries than the spread of the gospel per se.[6]

In contrast to the first group of brothers, the second preach Christ from good will. While the Greek word eudokia can mean a basic good disposition,[7] the context here suggests the stronger sense of the word that indicates “pleasure.”[8] That is clearly the sense of the word in Phil 2:13, and it fits the context here. Thus the point is not merely that these brothers preach Christ from good rather than bad motives. It is rather that these brothers preach Christ because they are motivated by a deep and satisfying delight in the Christ they preach.

People preach the gospel for a variety of reasons. Some see it as the path to fortune and fame, preeminence and prestige. More subtly, some preach Christ with one eye on the gospel and another on others engaged in ministry, falling into the subtle but deadly trap of comparing the results. Still others preach Christ because he is their greatest delight. Why do you preach Christ?