Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel

Paul says that his circumstances have actually served the advance of the gospel, making it known throughout the guard and beyond that his chains are for Christ and giving many believers greater boldness. Some preach Christ from love and others from selfish ambition, but Paul rejoices that in every case Christ is proclaimed.

N¹²ow I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear. ¹⁵It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains. ¹⁸What 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,

Paul says that through the Philippians' prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for his deliverance. His eager expectation is that he will not be ashamed, but that Christ will be honored in his body with full courage, whether by life or by death.

¹⁹because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance. ²⁰I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.