Philippians 1:16
“The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Some preach Christ out of rivalry, insincerely, hoping to make Paul's imprisonment harder.
What Does Philippians 1:16 Mean?
Paul describes the first group more fully. They preached out of contention, not sincerely, even intending to add to his affliction, as though hoping to wound the prisoner through their activity.
It is striking that some would use the proclamation of Christ as a way to hurt a fellow servant. Paul feels the sting; he does not pretend it does not touch him. Yet he records it without bitterness, naming the wrong while refusing to be consumed by it. The verse exposes how self-interest can corrupt even sacred work, turning ministry into rivalry. Paul's example, especially in what follows, shows a heart that can name an injury truthfully and still not be ruled by it.