The Meaning of Philippians 1:12 Explained

Philippians 1:12

KJV: But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

YLT: And I wish you to know, brethren, that the things concerning me, rather to an advancement of the good news have come,

Darby: But I would have you know, brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have turned out rather to the furtherance of the glad tidings,

ASV: Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  I would  ye  should understand,  brethren,  that  the things [which happened] unto  me  have fallen out  rather  unto  the furtherance  of the gospel; 

What does Philippians 1:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse is a topic sentence for all that follows through Philippians 1:26. Whenever Paul wrote, "I want you to know," he introduced something important (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:6; 2 Timothy 3:1).
His readers could very understandably have concluded that Paul"s imprisonment had brought the building of the church of Jesus Christ to a standstill, or at least slowed its progress significantly. However the apostle announced that this had not happened. Rather his imprisonment was resulting in the advancement of God"s program. In relation to the progress of the gospel, Paul"s imprisonment was really a good thing, a positive situation.
"The same God who used Moses" rod, Gideon"s pitchers, and David"s sling, used Paul"s chains." [1]

Context Summary

Philippians 1:12-21 - "to Live Is Christ, And To Die Is Gain"
It was a matter of comparative indifference to Paul what happened to himself so long as the gospel progressed, because the extension of the gospel meant the growing glory of Jesus. He was quite content to be in bonds, if only by his chains he might gain access to new realms, hitherto untrodden, for proclaiming his Lord. He could even view with equanimity the envy and strife of some, if Jesus might be named to those who had never heard of Him, He was prepared to live or to die, that Jesus might be magnified. He was willing to remain for a little longer outside of heaven, if that would better serve the cause he loved. His main argument for consistency of life on the part of his converts was that the success of the gospel might not be impeded. It seemed good to suffer, if only it were on the behalf of Christ. Oh that we might experience a similar absorption in the great interests of the gospel!
It is clear from this paragraph that death is not an unconscious sleep. It is gain. It is a loosing from anchorage so that the soul may go forth on the broad ocean of God's love. It does not interrupt our conscious fellowship with the Lord. The moment of absence here is the moment of presence there. To die is therefore gain. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 1

1  Paul testifies his thankfulness to God, and his love toward the Philippians,
9  daily praying for their increase in grace;
12  he shows what good the faith of Christ had received by his troubles at Rome;
21  and how ready he is to glorify Christ either by his life or death;
27  exhorting them to unity;
28  and to fortitude in persecution

Greek Commentary for Philippians 1:12

The things which happened unto me [τα κατ εμε]
“The things concerning me” = “my affairs” as common in Josephus. [source]
Have fallen out rather [μαλλον εληλυτεν]
“Have come rather.” Second perfect active indicative of ερχομαι — erchomai Unto the progress (εις προκοπην — eis prokopēn). Late word from προκοπτω — prokoptō common verb, to cut or strike forward, but this late substantive does not occur in classical Greek. It is a technical term in Stoic philosophy for “progress toward wisdom” and it appears also in the papyri and the lxx. In N.T. only here, Phlippians 1:25; 1 Timothy 4:15. [source]
Unto the progress [εις προκοπην]
Late word from προκοπτω — prokoptō common verb, to cut or strike forward, but this late substantive does not occur in classical Greek. It is a technical term in Stoic philosophy for “progress toward wisdom” and it appears also in the papyri and the lxx. In N.T. only here, Phlippians 1:25; 1 Timothy 4:15. [source]
Rather [μᾶλλον]
For the furtherance of the Gospel rather than, as might have been expected, for its hindrance. [source]
Furtherance [προκοπὴν]
Only here, Phlippians 1:25, and 1 Timothy 4:15. The metaphor is uncertain, but is supposed to be that of pioneers cutting ( κόπτω ) a way before ( πρό ) an army, and so furthering its march. The opposite is expressed by ἐγκόπτω tocut into; hence to throw obstacles in the way, hinder. Galatians 5:7. See on 1 Peter 3:7. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 1:12 mean?

To know now you I want brothers that the things concerning me really to [the] advancement of the gospel have turned out
Γινώσκειν δὲ ὑμᾶς βούλομαι ἀδελφοί ὅτι τὰ κατ’ ἐμὲ μᾶλλον εἰς προκοπὴν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐλήλυθεν

Γινώσκειν  To  know 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
βούλομαι  I  want 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: βούλομαι  
Sense: to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded.
ἀδελφοί  brothers 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
τὰ  the  things 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κατ’  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
ἐμὲ  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
μᾶλλον  really 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μᾶλλον  
Sense: more, to a greater degree, rather.
προκοπὴν  [the]  advancement 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: προκοπή  
Sense: progress, advancement.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εὐαγγελίου  gospel 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: εὐαγγέλιον  
Sense: a reward for good tidings.
ἐλήλυθεν  have  turned  out 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.