The Meaning of Philippians 1:15 Explained

Philippians 1:15

KJV: Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

YLT: Certain, indeed, even through envy and contention, and certain also through good-will, do preach the Christ;

Darby: Some indeed also for envy and strife, but some also for good will, preach the Christ.

ASV: Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Some  indeed  preach  Christ  even  of  envy  and  strife;  and  some  also  of  good will: 

What does Philippians 1:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Of these local Roman Christians who were now witnessing and preaching more boldly there were two types, distinguished by their motivation. Some were hoping to advance their own reputations by their activities. They were envious of Paul"s prominence and were striving with their fellow believers for selfish reasons. This view seems more probable than that they were the Judaizers Paul spoke of later in Philippians 3:1-16. Others had a sincere desire to reach the lost and to meet the needs that Paul"s confinement had created.

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 1:15

Even of envy and strife [και δια πτονον και εριν]
“Even because of” (accusative after δια — dia). Surely the lowest of motives for preaching Christ. Envy is an old word and an old sin and strife (ερις — eris) is more rivalry than schism. It is petty and personal jealousy of Paul‘s power and prowess by the Judaizers in Rome whom Paul has routed in the east, but who now exult at the opportunity of annoying their great antagonist by their interpretation of Christ. Jealousy is always against those of one‘s own class or profession as preachers with preachers, doctors with doctors. [source]
Of goodwill [δι ευδοκιαν]
Because of goodwill toward Paul. [source]
Even of envy []
Strange as it may seem that envy should be associated with the preaching of Christ. They are jealous of Paul's influence. [source]
Strife [ἔριν]
Factious partisanship. [source]
Good will []
Toward Paul. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 1:15 mean?

Some indeed even from envy and strife however also from goodwill - Christ are proclaiming
Τινὲς μὲν καὶ διὰ φθόνον καὶ ἔριν δὲ καὶ δι’ εὐδοκίαν τὸν Χριστὸν κηρύσσουσιν

Τινὲς  Some 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
μὲν  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
καὶ  even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
φθόνον  envy 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: φθόνος  
Sense: envy.
ἔριν  strife 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἔρις  
Sense: contention, strife, wrangling.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
εὐδοκίαν  goodwill 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: εὐδοκία  
Sense: will, choice.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστὸν  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
κηρύσσουσιν  are  proclaiming 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κηρύσσω  
Sense: to be a herald, to officiate as a herald.