Philippians 1:16-17 - Exposition

These two verses must change places according to the reading of the best manuscripts. The clauses are inverted by the figure chiasmus. But the other of love ; read, as R.V., the one do it of love. This is better than the other possible rendering, "those who are of love do it. " Knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel . κεῖμαι . I am set or appointed, as in 1 Thessalonians 2:3 ; not, as some understand, I lie in prison. They preach Christ out of love—love for Christ, and love for Paul for Christ's sake. The one preach Christ of contention; read and translate, as R.V., but the other proclaim Christ of faction ; perhaps rather, announce ( καταγγέλλουσιν ); bring news of Christ; and that they do out of factious-ness. ἐριθεία , derived from ἕριθος , a hired servant, means labor for hire, and is commonly used of hired canvassers, in the sense of factiousness, party spirit. It is reckoned by St. Paul in Galatians 5:20 among the works of the flesh, and is condemned also in Romans 2:8 . Not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds ; rather, as R.V. (reading with the best manuscripts ἐγείρειν ), thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds. Their motives were not pure; they wished to make St. Paul feel the helplessness of imprisonment, and to increase his affliction by opposing his doctrines, and by forming a party insisting on the observance of the ceremonial law. Bishop Lightfoot translates θλίψιν ἐγείρειν "to make my chains gall me."