Christ is Preached Philippians 1:18

Paul the apostle listed a number of ways in which brethren shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. He told the Philippian church that some shared with envy, strife, good will, contention, not sincerely, and others shared with love. Some of these men hoped to add to Paul's afflictions by preaching in an ill manner, and others had a heart for the people and shared honestly. In chapter one and verse eighteen of Philippians we learn Paul's assessment of these different motives where we read:

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

The verse begins, “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached;” Paul begins with the phrase “What then?” or “What should the conclusion to all these ways of speaking be?”. His question is rhetorical and means “What does it matter?” or “What is the difference of the manner in which they speak?” He answered his own question with this conclusion, “notwithstanding” or “moreover, besides, but, nevertheless” in “every way” whether these share “in pretense” which means “under color as though they would do something, in pretense, or ostensibly” “or in truth” or “what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth” - “Christ is preached”. In other words Paul the apostle was able to rise above the motives of those who shared the gospel of Jesus Christ and note the value of Christ being preached. When weighed in the balance, the value of the gospel of Jesus Christ being shared outweighed the reason that men were sharing it.

The verse goes on to say, “and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” Paul's reaction to the gospel being preached was “I therein do rejoice” which means “be glad, rejoice exceedingly, to be well, or thrive”, and as though one time wasn't enough, Paul repeats himself and wrote “and will rejoice”. Both at the time he was writing these words and in his future, Paul rejoiced over the gospel of Jesus Christ being preached to people wherever they were.

Have we ever rejoiced over Christ being preached, or are we so into the manner that people share the gospel that we cannot rise above and see the value like Paul did? Are the methods, motives, and the manner in which people share getting in the way of our noticing that “Christ is preached”? Sometimes traditions, patterns, habits, customs and beliefs get in the way of seeing the true value of Jesus being shared with others. As we ponder Paul's words and attitude toward those who shared the gospel in his day, perhaps it will help us to step back from our normal ways of seeing things and weigh in the balances of our minds the fact that Jesus Christ is shared compared to the manner in which He is shared. May our Heavenly Father help us to weigh value in the same manner as Paul the apostle did.

Next time Paul tells what he believes the result of these men sharing will be for him personally,, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

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