The Meaning of Philippians 1:18 Explained

Philippians 1:18

KJV: What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

YLT: what then? in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed -- and in this I rejoice, yea, and shall rejoice.

Darby: What is it then? at any rate, in every way, whether in pretext or in truth, Christ is announced; and in this I rejoice, yea, also I will rejoice;

ASV: What then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

What  then?  notwithstanding,  every  way,  whether  in pretence,  or  in truth,  Christ  is preached;  and  I  therein  do rejoice,  yea,  and  will rejoice. 

What does Philippians 1:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The idiom ti gar, translated, "What then?" in the NASB, means, "What does it matter?" (NIV). While motivation is important, it is even more important that the gospel gets proclaimed. Paul believed that it was better for people with impure motives to preach Christ than that they not preach Him at all.
"The power of the gospel, therefore, does not depend on the character of the preacher." [1]
Paul"s judgment here, by the way, is an example of seeking the best rather than just the good (cf. Philippians 1:9-10). He rejoiced and would continue to rejoice that his imprisonment had resulted in the more extensive proclamation of the good news of salvation.
". . . when you have the single mind, you look upon your circumstances as God-given opportunities for the furtherance of the Gospel, and you rejoice at what God is going to do instead of complaining about what God did not do." [2]
Philippians 1:12-18 present Paul as a positive model for all believers. Rather than valuing his own comfort, reputation, and freedom above all else, he put the advancement of God"s plan first. He discerned what was best ( Philippians 1:10). He could maintain a truly joyful attitude even in unpleasant circumstances because he derived his joy from seeing God glorified rather than from seeing himself exalted. His behavior in prison had been pure and blameless (cf. Philippians 1:10).

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 1:18

What then? [τι γαρ]
Sharp problem put up to Paul by the conduct of the Judaizers. [source]
Only that [πλην οτι]
Same idiom in Acts 20:23. Πλην — Plēn is adverb πλεον — pleon (more besides). As a preposition πλην — plēn means “except.” This essential thing Paul sees in spite of all their envy and selfishness that Christ is preached. Whether in pretence (ειτε προπασει — eite prophasei). Either from προπαινω — prophainō to shew forth, or προπημι — prophēmi to speak forth, the ostensible presentation often untrue. See note on Acts 27:30. Paul sees clearly through the pious pretence of these Judaizers and rejoices that people get some knowledge of Christ. Some Christ is better than no Christ. Yea, and will rejoice Note affirmative, not adversative, use of αλλα — alla Volitive use of the future (second future passive) indicative (χαρησομαι — charēsomai) of χαιρω — chairō Paul is determined to rejoice in spite of the efforts of the Judaizers to prod him to anger. [source]
Whether in pretence [ειτε προπασει]
Either from προπαινω — prophainō to shew forth, or προπημι — prophēmi to speak forth, the ostensible presentation often untrue. See note on Acts 27:30. Paul sees clearly through the pious pretence of these Judaizers and rejoices that people get some knowledge of Christ. Some Christ is better than no Christ. [source]
Yea, and will rejoice [αλλα και χαρησομαι]
Note affirmative, not adversative, use of αλλα — alla Volitive use of the future (second future passive) indicative (χαρησομαι — charēsomai) of χαιρω — chairō Paul is determined to rejoice in spite of the efforts of the Judaizers to prod him to anger. [source]
What then? []
Such being the case, how does it affect me? [source]
Notwithstanding [πλὴν]
Read πλὴν ὅτι exceptthat. Rev., only that. What is my feeling in view of these things? Only that I rejoice that Christ is preached. [source]
In pretense []
With a spirit of envy and faction, possibly with a counterfeited zeal for truth. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 1:18 mean?

What then Only that in every way whether in pretext or in truth Christ is proclaimed And in this I rejoice Yes I will rejoice
Τί γάρ πλὴν ὅτι παντὶ τρόπῳ εἴτε προφάσει εἴτε ἀληθείᾳ Χριστὸς καταγγέλλεται καὶ ἐν τούτῳ χαίρω ἀλλὰ χαρήσομαι

πλὴν  Only 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: πλήν  
Sense: moreover, besides, but, nevertheless.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
παντὶ  in  every 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
τρόπῳ  way 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: τρόπος  
Sense: a manner, way, fashion.
εἴτε  whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: εἴτε  
Sense: if … if.
προφάσει  in  pretext 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: πρόφασις  
Sense: a pretext (alleged reason, pretended cause).
ἀληθείᾳ  in  truth 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀλήθεια  
Sense: objectively.
Χριστὸς  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
καταγγέλλεται  is  proclaimed 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καταγγέλλω  
Sense: to announce, declare, promulgate, make known.
τούτῳ  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
χαίρω  I  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: χαίρω  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
ἀλλὰ  Yes 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἀλλά  
Sense: but.
χαρήσομαι  I  will  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: χαίρω  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.