Preaching with Contention Philippians 1:16

While Paul the apostle was in prison for preaching the gospel, other brethren took his place in sharing. However, not all of them did so with “good will” but rather preached with “envy and strife”. In chapter one and verse sixteen of Philippians Paul wrote more about those who were preaching in his absence. We read:

The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

The verse begins, “The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely,...” As Paul continued to write about those he knew were preaching while he sat in prison, he said “the one preach Christ of contention” which means “electioneering or intriguing for office” which is like a politician seeking to obtain an office. It infers “partisanship and fractiousness” which in other words means they were choosing sides and dividing the people into various groups. Paul adds that they were preaching “not sincerely” which is not “chaste, clean, pure, and with sincerity”. With motivations such as these it is a wonder that they were allowed to preach at all.

The verse goes on to say, “... supposing to add affliction to my bonds:” As though knowing the evil manner these brothers were sharing the gospel wasn't enough, Paul mentions the reason they are preaching this way - “supposing to add affliction to my bonds:”. The word “affliction” employed by Paul literally means “pressing or pressing together” and is a metaphor for “oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, or straits”. These who were preaching were hoping “to add” more trouble to the difficulties which were already being experienced by Paul. As hard as it is to believe, there were those who enjoyed adding to the misery of the great apostle Paul.

As we ponder Paul's words, we may have had someone come to our mind who seems to enjoy adding to our misery when we experience it. As though they have to somehow elevate or electioneer for a position over us, they share with others with contention and not sincerely. When these people come into our lives it is helpful to remember that every sin, every sin, and once more every sin that anyone else commits against us, Jesus died for on the cross. In addition, every sin, every sin, and once more every sin, that we commit against others He died for as well. When others do things against us like these brothers did to Paul, let us remember the cross, and leave their contentious ways in the hands of the Lord.

Next time Paul shares one more way brethren preached the gospel, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

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