Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

their conduct and speech in public. Paul intends to keep on rejoicing in spite of the efforts of
antagonistic teachers to upset him.
The easiest thing Paul could have done was to denounce those who preached Christ with
false motivation. He could have spent much of his time in prison defending himself from his
detractors. He could have resorted to competition with them, debating the pros-and-cons of
the content of their message. This is what my flesh wants to do when someone at work runs
counter to my way of thinking or working. Everyone else seems to function that way, to the
extent that we now have a euphemism for the practice: office politics. The conventional
wisdom (human viewpoint) where I work dictates that you must learn to operate in this
sphere or be crushed; but Bible doctrine (divine viewpoint) dictates that I must operate in a
different sphere - putting aside such mental and verbal sins and leaving all “background
noise” in the hand of God. Yes, it is easier said than done.
REVELANT OPINIONS
The apostle’s thoughts move from his present joy, concerning the preaching of Christ by any and
every means, to his future joy regarding his own salvation and the honouring of Christ in all
circumstances … the repetition of the verb “kairo” makes such a conjunction plain – it does appear
that the two particles “alla” and “kai” are combined in a progressive sense, meaning “further” or
“what is more.” (P. O’Brien) Paul keeps his balance. His own person and its luster fade into the
background; even whether he lives or dies is unessential. This selfish ambition that tried to outshine
him and hurt his feelings did not disturb his equanimity even for a moment. (R. Lenski)
However much the apostle deplores the intention of those who are preaching Christ for their own
ends, with mixed motives and intending to annoy him, he does not condemn the substance of their
message, which after all is Christ … Joy as a fruit of the Spirit is no evanescent emotional quality,
exalting us one moment and deserting us the next, but to have inner happiness in the most trying
circumstances of life. (R. P. Martin) What does it matter? It does not matter! (F.F. Bruce) The
efficacy of the gospel happily does not depend upon the character or motives of the preacher. (G.B.
Caird)
What really matters is not the attitude of one group or the other to Paul himself, but that Christ is
being proclaimed. What does it matter? The paragraph serves to show how Paul can and does submit
his own personal interests to those of the wider horizon of the gospel. The amazing irony is that the
efforts of this second group, which advance the gospel while motivated by antagonism towards Paul,
actually further his interests. (P. O’Brien) First, we are merely to see ourselves as God sees us, and
this will happen as we study His Word. Second, we are to have a better opinion of others, especially
those who are troublemakers. Third, Paul says that we are to possess the mind of Christ. (J. Boice)
Philp. 1:18 What (interrogative pronoun) then is my
conclusion (coordinating)? Only (coordinating) that
(subordinate) in every way (Instr. Means/Manner; conduct,
character), whether (comparative) with falsely alleged