Chapter 12: Preaching Christ: From Envy Or From Love? =====================================================
From: Meditations on Philippians: Sacrifices of Joy
Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 6min
Philippians 1:15‑18 • 6 min. read • grade level: 8
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“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”
“Some, on-the-one hand, even for envy and strife, but some, on-the-other hand, also for goodwill preach the Christ: these indeed out of-love, knowing that I-am-set for (the) defense of-the gospel, but those out of-rivalry proclaim the Christ, not purely, supposing to-arouse (or stir-up) tribulation for-my bonds. What then? Notwithstanding, in-every way, whether in-pretense or in-truth, Christ is-proclaimed, and in this I-rejoice, yea, also I-will-rejoice.”
Philippians 1:15-1815Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:15‑18)
We have seen that Paul’s imprisonment turned out rather for the furtherance of the gospel. “His very imprisonment preached Christ.” But, alas, some indeed preached Christ even of envy and strife. The word for “strife” really means “partisanship,” or “rivalry”: “faction, party-spirit, intrigue” all belong to this word. Perhaps it is hard to imagine how anybody could do that: and yet, I grieve to say, we find the same thing very often today. On the mission field we find one mission trying to get ahead of another: we find vast areas in black, heathen darkness because some human society claims this as their private domain: and other servants of the Lord cannot find an entry there to preach the gospel. Nor need we go so far from home: even amongst the saints of God at home, who love the Savior and preach the gospel, we have seen rivalry, emulation, and party-spirit come in. How often, especially perhaps in a large meeting like a conference, where a number of the Lord’s servants are gathered together, do we see rivalry come in: we see one or another following in the steps of Diotrephes, and loving to have the preeminence: and friction and bitterness is often the result. I have heard it said, when a number of servants of the Lord were available to preach the gospel, “We must ask So-and-So, as he would be hurt, if we did not.” What is this, but preaching the gospel from envy and strife? Sad is it indeed that such things can creep in: but our hearts are no better than the hearts of the saints at Rome, in the days of Paul: and well we need to take heed to these gentle admonitions in the Word.
Some have thought that the persons acting in this way were the same sort of persons as those who preached the law to the Galatians; but surely the Apostle would never have called such preaching “the gospel,” when he tells us that it is a “different gospel, which is not another.” What those men in Galatia preached was no gospel at all: these men, on the other hand, “preached Christ” (Rom. 15:1919Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:19)). Paul could utter a curse, twice repeated, on those: over these he could rejoice. And so we must conclude that it was true gospel, preached by untrue men, or, in an untrue way. Dear Mr. Lavington once said: “May the Lord help us to see that the keynote for the Christian, is the place that the gospel has in our hearts and in our witness! And that, as the Apostle says, ‘Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.’ (1 Cor. 9:1616For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)). The Lord help us to be more faithful, and rise to our privileges and responsibility.”
But we can be thankful indeed, that amongst those dear saints at Rome, there were also those who preached Christ of “good will.” The better Greek reading reverses the order of verses 16 and 17, as in the New Translation, so the description of those who preached of good will, follows immediately, and it is a joy to see they preached out of love, and it is the stronger word for love, not merely affection. The Apostle had once said, “The love of Christ constraineth me.” And now it is love constrains these Roman saints to preach Christ. May we not suppose that little word “love” includes the love of Christ, love for Christ, and love for the Apostle? I doubt not that all were combined in the constraint that compelled them to preach Christ. And love is the only true motive for preaching the gospel. It must be no cold duty, to be performed every so often: but a burning love that comes from the heart. The story is told of a little Christian servant girl, who worked for an infidel. Many a true Christian had reasoned with him as to his views, without effect. This girl was greatly troubled for her master, for she loved him. One day in his presence, she could control herself no longer, and burst into tears. He asked what was the matter, and she could only sob out, that she was so concerned about his soul: and this led him to Christ. And so it was out of love the Roman saints “heralded the Christ,” for so it is literally: and then the Apostle changes the word, and tells us they “proclaimed the Christ.”
The ones who preached the Christ out of love, knew that the Apostle was set for the defense of the gospel: and the ones who preached out of rivalry, supposed to raise up tribulation for his bonds. “Set for the defense of the gospel” has the thought of a soldier who is posted in a certain position to defend it. The Captain of Salvation had posted Paul in a Roman prison for the defense of the gospel; and Paul could well rejoice even in such a post: it was his Captain’s doing; and it was for the defense of the gospel. You remember that back in the 7th verse, we read again about the defense of the gospel, and the share in that defense that the Philippian saints had. And now the Roman saints are having a share in it also. In our Authorized Version we read that the other preachers supposed “to add affliction” (vs. 16) to his bonds. The better reading is to, “arouse,” or “raise up,” or “stir up” affliction. Their thought seems to have been (from the word used) that they supposed there would be “a tightening of the chain” that bound Paul. And what is Paul’s answer to such a cruel motive? Oh, grand answer! “What then?” he asks, “Notwithstanding, or, at any rate, in every way, whether in pretense, or whether in truth, CHRIST IS PROCLAIMED; and in this I rejoice; yea, also I will rejoice.” What a magnificent answer! What can the enemy do with such a man as that? Truly the joy of the Lord is his strength. He was, in very truth, glorying in tribulation, as once he had written to the saints at Rome. It is told of Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople long ago, that he died repeating his favorite words: “Glory be to God for all events!” He was of the same spirit as Paul. May you and I, Beloved, have a portion of that spirit: it comes from an implicit faith in our Lord, and a single eye for Him and His gospel.
...the glorious gospel
Of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 1 Tim. 1:1111According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (1 Timothy 1:11)
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