PHILIPPIANS 1:12-26
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
10 POINTS TO PONDER
Paul’s solution to his problems is relevant to us because Paul faced many of the same problems that we face.
Paul faced situational problems (life circumstances that were not what he desired), he faced relational problems (people were slandering him and gossiping about him publicly), and he faced emotional problems (he was discouraged and disappointed).
Jesus faced all of the same kinds of problems as Paul. He was arrested, falsely tried, and convicted. He was betrayed by one of his best friends. In the garden, he was under such emotional pressure that He was sweating drops of blood.
Even though Philippians 1:12-26 is a description of Paul’s problems, he still mentions joy three separate times. When you talk about your problems, does it cause you joy or does it cause you anger and discouragement?
Paul’s solution to his problems was not to make them go away (he couldn’t control that), but to choose to view them through a different lens. In every situation, He looked for Gospel-opportunities.
Paul didn’t ignore his troubles or pretend they didn’t exist. He acknowledged them and wrote about them. But he didn’t focus on them. He didn’t replay them in his mind. He didn’t allow them to control him.
Instead of bars and chains, Paul saw a captive audience. Instead of slander and gossip, Paul saw people hearing about Jesus. Instead of no light at the end of the tunnel, Paul saw an endless opportunity to spread the light of Christ.
Paul didn’t fear death, and so he was able to live fully.
“To live is Christ” means that every day I am sustained by Christ for the glory of Christ. When I live fully for him, every problem becomes a potential opportunity to talk about Jesus.
When we can’t find joy in the midst of trouble, it is often because we are not actually or fully living for Christ. We have been distracted, and we have unintentionally made our lives all about comfort, convenience, wealth, accomplishment, advancement, popularity, or anything else.
OH, THE JOY…
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers. (Psalm 1:1 NLT)
Other translations begin this verse with “Blessed is the man…” I like the phrasing of the NLT, “Oh, the joys…” This is a good reminder that the blessed life is a life of joy. Blessings do not necessarily come in the shape of material or financial gain. Blessings are not always related to our circumstances. Blessings do not have to be us receiving something really wanted. However, a blessed life is always a life full of joy.
THE TRUEST JOY IS NOT THE RESULT OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
Interestingly, in Psalm 1, the author first points to what does NOT bring the joy-filled life (He will use verse 2 to explain the source of the blessed life). Here is the conclusion. Joy is not found in the coalitions you create for your own benefit. I know it may not exactly say this, but let me suggest that it is exactly what it means. Consider this:
- Since the Garden of Eden, self-exaltation has been at the root of all evil.
- The wicked, the sinners, and the mockers are all people who can be characterized first as those who are selfish.
- These are people who create relationships for their own gain. Those who enter relationships with these people do so for their own gain, even if that “gain” is simply feeling more popular or better about oneself.
- Relationships that center around my own desires and advancement will never bring me joy.
I’ve seen it in marriages, in business partnerships, and even in churches; devastation is often the result when relationships are leveraged for personal gain. The relationships you have will never completely fulfill you… ESPECIALLY, if they are relationships formed with the wicked, the sinners, and the mockers… aka the self-absorbed.
But…
If you want to know the true secret of joy, check out Psalm 1:2!
Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF
The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into what the Bible teaches about joy in the midst of suffering:
- Romans 5:3-4
- Isaiah 61:3
- 1 Peter 1:6-7
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
- Psalm 30:5
- John 16:20-22
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:
What was the greatest day of your life? What made it so great?
What was the most difficult day of your life? How did you get through it?
When you think of heaven, to what do you most look forward? What questions do you have about heaven?
Read Philippians 1:21-23. What do you like about these verses? What raises questions?
What kind of things would have driven Paul to be having these kind of thoughts? (read 2 Corinthians 6:3-10)
Have you ever experienced the kind of feelings Paul writes about in these verses? How did you deal with them?
When you think about being in the presence of the Lord, are you excited or terrified? Why?
Read Philippians 1:24-26. Why did Paul decide it was better to remain present on the earth?
Life is not really worth living if you are only living it for yourself!
How has someone impacted your life because they were focused on your benefit instead of their own?
What are some simple ways you can be more others focused in your life?
How can this group be more others focused? What are some things we can do to bring benefit to our church, our community, or our workplaces?
How will we pray for one another this week?
PHILIPPIANS: Line by Line
12-26: The Purpose Behind Paul’s Troubles
12a. I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me… What had happened to Paul was that he had been imprisoned in Rome. He was possibly going to stand trial for his life. This was at the end of long captivity in Palestine, multiple trials and false accusations, and finally transport by sea that ended in a shipwreck. All of this matters because it sets the stage for what Paul is about to say. Everyone who reads this can identify with Paul because they’ve had bad things happen, but very few people can say they’ve had more bad things happen than Paul.
12b. …has really served to advance the gospel,
For Paul, every situation in life was an opportunity to advance the gospel. No matter what he faced, he immediately began thinking about how he could use this situation to tell someone about Jesus. This mindset left him no room for complaining or quitting. Even the toughest circumstances still afforded him an opportunity to fulfill his life’s purpose.
13. so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
Paul was likely guarded (and possibly chained to) the imperial guard in Rome. They were a captive audience. So he used that opportunity to tell them about Christ. It’s worth noting, that Paul’s positive attitude in suffering likely empowered his message to everyone with whom he spoke. His words had more meaning because his life matched them.
14a. And most of the brothers, having become more confident in the Lord by my imprisonment…
Their confidence didn’t grow in themselves or in Paul. Because they saw Paul’s relationship with Christ, their confidence grew in Christ. You never know who might be watching you, but if they are, will your life cause them to draw closer to God?
14b. are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
When one person is bold enough to do the right things, often others will follow. Some people just need to know that they are not the only one. Your choice to be courageous might inspire someone else to do even more than you can!
15. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
Paul’s experience was no different than ours. He had people in his life that were rivals. Somehow they were capitalizing on Paul’s misfortune to grow their own influence and following.
16. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
Paul is likely saying that he was “put here” in prison because of His gospel work. Those who understood this truth were continuing to build on the work Paul had started. They were building up the believers in Rome, Philippi, and around the world.
17a. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition,
There have always been and there will always be people who seek to use religion (including Christianity) to enrich themselves, empower themselves, and control others.
17b. not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
These self-promoting teachers were likely slandering Paul, pointing to his “criminal” status as evidence that he could not be trusted. Because Paul had built so many churches and had built up so many Christians, they were trying to capitalize on the wide reach he had.
18. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
In verse 12, Paul said that everything in his life served to advance the gospel, and that continues to be his mindset. Even if he was slandered, falsely accused, and lied about; he rejoiced as long as it meant more people were hearing about Jesus. Paul’s joy was not grounded in what happened to him or in what others did, it was rooted in Christ and the proclamation of the gospel (this will be a recurring theme in Philippians).
18-19. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
Paul knew that his deliverance would come, he just didn’t know how. He might be delivered from prison and granted his freedom, or he might be delivered from life and granted his eternal reward. This is a powerful reminder that God always delivers and always heals His children. But sometimes deliverance means He brings us to Himself.
20. as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or death.
When Paul talks about be ashamed, he is pointing to his reunion with Christ in glory. He hopes that he will not have to say “I should have done more” or “I could have done more.” The secret, in Paul’s mind, to living a life he can be proud of is to honor Christ in everything he does (“Iin my body” could also read “with my body”. It is an action oriented phrase.), even if he dies doing it.
21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Once internalized and acted upon, this formula is life-changing. Those who have been faithful in life will discover that death is a doorway to something even better. If I live for Christ, death is gain. But, the reverse is also true. Death is loss for those who do not live for Christ.
22a. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
Because Paul viewed every circumstance as an opportunity to share the gospel, he realized that the longer he lived (even if it was difficult), the opportunits he would have to bear Christ-honoring fruit.
22b-23. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Paul is not revealing suicidal intent here. He is, however, giving us a window into the difficulty of his life. He was tired, discouraged, and likely in pain. He knew that heaven would be far better. Here, he is expressing that he is ready to die and he is even eager to die if that is what God has for him. While Christians should never pursue death, they should also never fear it. No matter how good our life may be, once we have finished our assignment for God, the next life will be better.
24. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
God has us on this earth for the good of others. The longer Paul remained alive the more good he could do for others. More people would hear the gospel. More people would be encouraged by his example. More people would grow in their faith. Consider your own life and what you are producing. If more people were impacted by how you live, would it push them closer to or pull them further from God?
25. Convinced of this, I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
Paul didn’t view his ongoing life as an opportunity to pursue his own dreams or build his own empire. He viewed his life as a catalyst for the growth of others. Imagine how your daily life would change if you regularly asked yourself, “How will this decision or action enhance the faith of the people around me?”
26. so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Paul hoped that his freedom gained would lead to a reunion with the Philippians and an opportunity to build their faith in person. He hoped that every connection people had with him caused them to give glory to Jesus.
Lake Bible Notes 
Leave a comment