Vere. 12---U.-Fttrtherance of tM gospil through the apostle's imprisonment. He now proceeds to inform his converts of his condition at Rome, with his hopes and his fears for the future. His imprisonment had in two important respects signally pro• moted the growth of Christianity in the great metropolis of the world. L HIS SUFFERINGS FOR OB11.IST HAD BEOOHE KNOWN TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE PR.!E• TORIAN GuAl!D .u.-o TO oTHEBs. "My bonds have become manifest in Christ throu"h- out the Prmt.orian Gnard, and to all the rest.P This was important for two reaso;s. 1. Because these soldiers were CQT1,neded with "Oresar's household." We may well suppose that the saints in that household referred to afterwards (eh. iv. 22) owed their conversion to the apostle's ministry. 2. Because Ohristianity would thus be brougl&t under thti eye of the world. These soldiers were part of an army which then covered the world with its conquests. 3. But the special, importance lay in the fact tha.t he fDa6 rewgniud as a prisoner, rwt for theft, or murder, or ill-doing, but/or his profession of the gospel. il. liIB SIJFFElllliGB FOR Cmm!T HAD THE EFFECT OF INSPmING MINISTERS WITH GREATER COUBAGE ur PBEACEING THE GOSPEL. "And the greater part of the brethren, having in the Lord confidence in my bonds, are more abundantly bold to preach the gospel without fear." This implies: L That the ministry was then a dangerous service, for it exposed preachers t.o violence and death. 2. That the example of triumphant faith a,id joyful endurance cannot be withoo,t its effect. The courage of the apostle, in a fearfully critical time, breathed new strength into" the brethren.''-T. C. Vers. lr-18.-.A rignificant difference among the apostle's brethren.. They were all actively engaged in preaching the gospel, but they were not actuated by the same motives. L THE DIFFERENT SPD!IT OF THE TWO CLASSES OF PREACHERS. "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will." The one class were actuated by a genuine good will to Chr~t and his apo~tle. The other class were actuated by envy and discord. They envied the populanty of the apostle among the Gentile Churches and showed a disagreeably quarrelsome temper. They were evidently Judaists who co~d little brook the overthrow of the Mosaic institute and Jewish commonwealth which seemed to be involved in the triumph of the apostle's gospel. Yet they preached Christ. IL THE MOTIVES oP THE TWO CLASSES. "The one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel; but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking t.o raise up affliction for me in IDY: bonds." Notice: ~- The pure mcti~e of the one cfoas-Zore-which ought t.o be the spnng of all gospel action. Love to Christ, love to tl,e truth love to the soulB of men, ought to be the abiding motive of all preachers. These breth~en had special regard for the apostle on account of his destined place in the evar.gelization of the world. 2. The impure 'fTIQtive of the other clas,-a base partisanship de.<91,td lo mal~ the apostle', bonds more gallin9. There arc allusions to this fierce part1 OH,L 1-30,] THE 1!:PIS'l'LE TO 'l'HE PI:IILIPPIANf,, 17
Rpirit 11mong the Judaists in most of the apostle's writings, aggravated as it orten was hy intense bitterness to the apostle. 3. Yet both classe., preached Uhri.,t. The language of tho apostle is applied to both classes. It is sad to think of men preaching Christ from bad motives, especially where such motives may imply a tinge of doctrinal imperfection in the method of preaching him, Yet the Lord accepts the services of weak, imperfect, sinful men in his vineyard. Ill. THE JOY OF THE APOSTLE AT THIS WIDESPREAD ACTIVITY OF TUE TWO CLASSES. 1. It might appear more natural for him to denounce these J udaists with words of sharp rebuke. Perhaps his own enforced inactivity as a preacher may have led him to rejoice in the Christian labours of men who knew Christ "only after the flesh." 2. His joy showa a large and forgiving nature. "What then? only that in every way, whether with masked design or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." The conduct of the apostle teaches us: (1) That the preaching of Christ is higher truth than the secondary questions of polity and worship which often cause dissension among Christians. (2) That Christians ought to rejoice in the succes~es of other Christians who follow different methods of doctrine or polity. (3) That it is right to condemn the base motives or unworthy insincerities that sometimes mingle with good work. (4) That we ought to show special consideration to those who preach Clirist of good will, and eschew all sorts of by-ends and manceuvres.-'1'. 0.