Philippians 1:14

“and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear”

“And that”: The second positive benefit of his imprisonment. “Most of the brethren in the Lord”: Notice the word "most". There will always be members who never get with the program, but Paul focuses on the faithful, not the unfaithful. Unfortunately, we often allow our minds to become discouraged by. small unfaithful minority. “In the Lord”: The only "brethren" we have are those "in the Lord". “Being confident through my bonds”: “There is. contagion of courage and passion” (Erdman p. 60). “When Paul arrived in their city as. prisoner for the gospel's sake, some of them perhaps wondered how safe it would be for them to be known as those who professed the same faith as he did” (Bruce p. 41). Paul informs the Philippians that God's cause was not suffering in Rome. He might be in prison, but his imprisonment had only inspired more Christians to take the gospel to the streets. “There were those who loved him; and, when they saw him in prison, they redoubled their efforts to spread the gospel, so that it would lose nothing because of Paul's imprisonment. They knew that the best way to delight his heart was to see that the work did not suffer because of his unavoidable absence” (Barclay p. 23). “More abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear”: “Now venture with far greater freedom to speak of God's Message fearlessly” (TCNT). “This message had even become the theme for discussion without restraint, the topic of ordinary conversation and talk. and this now far more than ever before” (Hendriksen p. 70).

His rivals and friends: Philippians 1:15-18

1 Peter 1:15 “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will”

“Some indeed”: Hendriksen points out, “It should be borne in mind that there was. church in Rome long before Paul arrived there. It can scarcely be doubted, therefore, that certain preachers in Rome had attained. degree of prominence among the brothers. With the arrival of Paul and especially with the spreading of his fame throughout the city (Philippians 1:13-14) is it easy to understand that these leaders were beginning to lose some of their former prestige. Their names were no longer mentioned so often” (pp. 71-72). “Preach Christ”: The content of their preaching was sound (Philippians 1:18). They were teaching the truth, but with wrong motives. Jackson reminds us that to “preach Christ” involves preaching His will (Acts 8:35; John 12:48). “The New Testament knows nothing of the popular concept. ‘Proclaim the Man, but not the Plan'” (p. 31). “Even of envy and strife”: “Out of jealousy and opposition” (TCNT). “What sort of heart would be displeased because Paul was winning many to Christ?” (Jackson p. 31). The word envy includes the ideas of ill-will, jealousy and spite, while the term strife carries the ideas of quarreling and contention. Even all "sound" preachers do not preach from the right motives.. can preach the truth, but if. do not preach from pure motives, other's will be profited, but. will not (1 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew 6:1). “And some of good will”: That is, good will towards Paul. This also means that genuine and true Christians exist.