...In Philippians 1, Paul was speaking of some who were preaching Christ
“of envy and strife” (v. 15). These preachers envied the great number of
people Paul had reached with The Gospel of Christ. Consequently, they
preached Christ of envy and strife, which the dictionary defines as “com-
petition between rivals,” and “of contention” (v. 16), which is defined as
“a striving to win in competition.”
Like many a preacher today, these men thought reaching the lost was
a competition among preachers, one in which Paul could no longer be
engaged due to his incarceration in a Roman prison (v. 13).
With Paul thus sidelined in a prison, these brethren continued to preach
Christ, “supposing to add affliction” to Paul’s bonds (v. 16). That is, they
supposed Paul also viewed reaching the lost as a competition, and it
would just eat him up inside to hear his rivals were out gaining converts
while he could not.
It is in this context Paul rejoices that Christ is being preached, for while
these brethren were preaching Christ with a faulty motive, they were at
least preaching The Right Message.
That’s quite different than Galatians 1:8, where Paul pronounces a curse
on all who preach a faulty message, even if their motive was pure and
good. God can bless and use The Right Gospel when it is preached with
an envious spirit, but He cannot bless and use a faulty gospel, regardless
of how pure and sincere the motivation behind it.
"
(R Kurth)
Peace, Love, And JOY In The LORD Jesus Christ,
And In HIS Gospel Of Grace. Amen!
“of envy and strife” (v. 15). These preachers envied the great number of
people Paul had reached with The Gospel of Christ. Consequently, they
preached Christ of envy and strife, which the dictionary defines as “com-
petition between rivals,” and “of contention” (v. 16), which is defined as
“a striving to win in competition.”
Like many a preacher today, these men thought reaching the lost was
a competition among preachers, one in which Paul could no longer be
engaged due to his incarceration in a Roman prison (v. 13).
With Paul thus sidelined in a prison, these brethren continued to preach
Christ, “supposing to add affliction” to Paul’s bonds (v. 16). That is, they
supposed Paul also viewed reaching the lost as a competition, and it
would just eat him up inside to hear his rivals were out gaining converts
while he could not.
It is in this context Paul rejoices that Christ is being preached, for while
these brethren were preaching Christ with a faulty motive, they were at
least preaching The Right Message.
That’s quite different than Galatians 1:8, where Paul pronounces a curse
on all who preach a faulty message, even if their motive was pure and
good. God can bless and use The Right Gospel when it is preached with
an envious spirit, but He cannot bless and use a faulty gospel, regardless
of how pure and sincere the motivation behind it.
"
(R Kurth)
Peace, Love, And JOY In The LORD Jesus Christ,
And In HIS Gospel Of Grace. Amen!
