Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

REVELANT OPINIONS
For Paul the goal of the gospel’s advance overrides all else, thus his personal inconveniences,
sufferings, and imprisonment serve this end. (P. O’Brien) There is a special application here for
those who do not have the freedom to preach the gospel. Paul was chained to a prison room. You
may have chains of your own. You may be tied to a desk when you would like to be out in more
direct Christian service. You may be tied to a home, especially when the children are young and
need constant care. You may be tied to a sickbed and may never see beyond your hospital room.
This should not be a cause for discouragement. If you are in circumstances like these, this has been
given you by God and can be used by Him. (J. Boice) The apostle did not merely say that the gospel
had continued to make progress in spite of adversity; rather, the adversity itself had turned out for
the advancement of the gospel. (M. Silva)
Paul writes to them in verses 12 to 21 to show them that a sovereign God may bring good results
from bad circumstances. (J. Pentecost) When Paul was taken to Rome he was permitted to dwell by
himself with a soldier who guarded him. He had liberty to speak to the chief Jews and he delivered
the final kingdom message to them. And then he lived two whole years in a rented house and
received all who came to him. He spoke with all boldness and no one forbade him (Acts 28:16-21).
These unusual privileges proved plainly, as the incidents on the voyage had already shown, that he
was indeed a prisoner of the Lord. His bonds were “in Christ” and, though they were designed to put
a stop to the evangel, they aided its progress. (A.E. Knoch)
Philp. 1:12 Now (transitional) brethren (Voc. Address), after
(temporal) mature consideration I want (PMI1S, bou,lomai,
Static, Deponent; desire) you all (Acc. Dir. Obj.) to
comprehend (PAInf., ginw,skw, Durative, Intended Result;
understand) that (continuative) my (Gen. Poss.) extreme
circumstances (Subj. Nom., literally: the "things concerning
me", referring to his imprisonment and upcoming lawsuit) have
come upon me (Perf.AI3S, e;rcomai, Iterative, Deponent) on
numerous occasions (Adv. with an Iterative; repeatedly) for
the advance (Acc. Purpose) of the good news (Adv. Gen. Ref.),
WHO
Philippians 1:12 Ginw,skein de. u`ma/j bou,lomai avdelfoi, o[ti ta. kat evme. ma/llon eivj
prokoph.n tou/ euvaggeli,ou evlh,luqen
VUL
Philippians 1:12 scire autem vos volo fratres quia quae circa me sunt magis ad profectum
venerunt evangelii
LWB Philp. 1:13 With the result that my imprisonments due to Christ have been made well
known [by public notice & gossip] throughout the entire Praetorian Guard and to all the
rest [SPQR: citizens of Rome].
KW Philp. 1:13 So that it has become plainly recognized that my shackles are because of Christ,