The Meaning of Philippians 1:17 Explained

Philippians 1:17

KJV: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

YLT: and the other out of love, having known that for defence of the good news I am set:

Darby: but those out of contention, announce the Christ, not purely, supposing to arouse tribulation for my bonds.

ASV: but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  the other of  love,  knowing  that  I am set  for  the defence  of the gospel. 

What does Philippians 1:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul"s arrival in Rome may have caused some of the self-seeking opportunists in the Roman church some distress. Attention would have shifted from them to him. Nevertheless with him in confinement they had an opportunity to regain the spotlight by becoming more active and outspoken. Evidently some of them thought that their prominence would distress Paul, as his prominence distressed them, but Paul was much less selfish than they were.

Context Summary

Php 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: Php 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 1:17

I am set [κεῖμαι]
Or appointed. See on Luke 2:34. Compare 1 Thessalonians 3:3. Some, instead of rendering the one (or some) preach Christ of contention - but the other of love, join οἱ μὲν some οἱ δὲ othersin each instance with the succeeding word, making one phrase, thus: “they who are of love do so knowing that I am set, etc.: they who are of faction proclaim Christ not sincerely, etc. The phrase those who are of faction occurs Romans 2:8; and a similar phrase, him who is of faith, Romans 3:26. There seems no sufficient reason for altering A.V. and Rev. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 1:17 mean?

the [ones] however out of selfish ambition - Christ are proclaiming not purely supposing tribulation to add to the chains of me
οἱ δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας τὸν Χριστὸν καταγγέλλουσιν οὐχ ἁγνῶς οἰόμενοι θλῖψιν ἐγείρειν τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου

οἱ  the  [ones] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἐξ  out  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
ἐριθείας  selfish  ambition 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἐριθεία  
Sense: electioneering or intriguing for office.
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.
καταγγέλλουσιν  are  proclaiming 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: καταγγέλλω  
Sense: to announce, declare, promulgate, make known.
ἁγνῶς  purely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἁγνῶς  
Sense: chaste, clean, pure, with sincerity.
οἰόμενοι  supposing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: οἶμαι 
Sense: to suppose, think.
θλῖψιν  tribulation 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: θλῖψις  
Sense: a pressing, pressing together, pressure.
ἐγείρειν  to  add 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
τοῖς  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δεσμοῖς  chains 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: δεσμός  
Sense: a band or bond.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.