Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

words is to regard the opposition to the apostle as one of personal rivalry. (P. O’Brien)
The “thlipsis” that the Christian necessarily undergoes as part of the eschatological sufferings consist
of afflictions of various kinds: from persecution, imprisonment, and chronic sickness to inner
distress and sorrow as well as anxiety and fear. (P. O’Brien) As Paul approached them in such
contacts as came his way, he did not compare their degree of sanctification with his own. He did not
say that if only they were more holy they would not think about him in this way, and that the cause
of their hostility would thus disappear – true though that must be, for if all Christians were
completely Christlike there would be no disputations. No doubt Paul would have readily admitted
that in some of their feelings about him they were justified, for he knew that he had not “already
obtained” and was not “already perfect.” Unity among Christians, the healing of divisions, has to be
achieved in spite of imperfect sanctification. (J. Motyer)
Think of it! Some preached Christ to add affliction to Paul’s bonds. Such were the good old days in
the Christian church at Rome. If we are to receive the full impact of Paul’s experiences in Rome, we
must recognize that it was Christians who were trying to get Paul into trouble by their preaching.
Some commentators have found this truth difficult to accept and have sought to dislodge it by
arguing that the ones who preached Christ out of strife and envy were either nonbelievers or
Judaizers, the kind of teachers that had tried to undermine Paul’s work in Galatia. But this
interpretation is impossible. It will not do to call the troublemakers unbelievers. These people were
Christians. Their outlook was characterized by strife. They were pugnacious Christians, the kind
who loved a good battle and were not particularly worried if they shot down their own soldiers while
attacking the enemy. In fact, they even preferred shooting at Christians. (J. Boice)
Philp. 1:17 On the other hand (comparative), certain people
(Subj. Nom.; with false motivation) out of (characterized by)
selfish ambition (Gen. Descr.; devisive self-promotion,
ulterior motives, pursuit of political office by unfair
means, naked self-advancement) are proclaiming (katagge,llw,
PAI3P, Durative) Christ (Acc. Dir. Obj.), not (neg. adv.)
with pure motives (Gen. Descr.; ulterior motives), thinking
(oi;omai, PMPtc.NPM, Iterative, Modal/Manner, Deponent;
supposing, inference without fact) within themselves (middle
voice) that they might apply (evgei,rw, PAInf., Tendential,
Purpose; arouse or activate) mental pressure (Acc. Dir. Obj.;
distress, outward calamity; psychological difficulty of some
sort) to my (Gen. Poss.) bonds (Dat. Disadv., Loc. Place;
hoping to torture Paul's soul while he was in prison).
WHO
Philippians 1:17 oi` de. evx evriqei,aj to.n Cristo.n katagge,llousin ouvc a`gnw/j oivo,menoi
qli/yin evgei,rein toi/j desmoi/j mou
VUL Philippians 1:17 quidam autem ex contentione Christum adnuntiant non sincere
existimantes pressuram se suscitare vinculis meis