Philippians 1:12
Philippians 1:12 in Multiple Translations
Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;
Now it is my purpose to make clear to you, brothers, that the cause of the good news has been helped by my experiences;
I want you to know, my brothers and sisters, that all I've experienced has worked out to move the good news forward!
I would ye vnderstood, brethren, that the things which haue come vnto me, are turned rather to the furthering of the Gospell,
And I wish you to know, brethren, that the things concerning me, rather to an advancement of the good news have come,
Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News,
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel;
Now, brethren, I desire you should know, that the things which have happened to me, have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel:
My fellow believers, I want you to know that the troubles I have experienced have not prevented me from proclaiming the good message to people. Instead, these things that I have experienced have enabled even more people to hear the good message about Christ.
My Christian friends, I want to tell you about myself. You know that bad things happened to me, and now I’m in jail. But don’t worry, it is good that I am in jail. Now I can tell more people about Jesus.
Berean Amplified Bible — Philippians 1:12
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Philippians 1:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Philippians 1:12
Study Notes — Philippians 1:12
- Context
- Cross References
- Philippians 1:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Philippians 1:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Philippians 1:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
- Cambridge Bible on Philippians 1:12
- Barnes' Notes on Philippians 1:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
- Sermons on Philippians 1:12
Context — Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Timothy 2:9 | for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained! |
| 2 | Romans 8:28 | And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. |
| 3 | Acts 11:19–21 | Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews. But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. |
| 4 | Romans 8:37 | No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. |
| 5 | Acts 22:1–30 | “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more silent. Then Paul declared, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today. I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me. Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’ Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus. There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there, came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him. Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice. You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’ Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’ ‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You. And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!” As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him. But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.” The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered. “I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains. The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them. |
| 6 | Acts 8:4 | Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. |
| 7 | Esther 9:1 | On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them. |
| 8 | Psalms 76:10 | Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself. |
| 9 | Acts 28:1–31 | Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man. After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail. After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead. Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli. There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome. The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God. When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him. After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation. So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you. But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.” So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 10 | Exodus 18:11 | Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.” |
Philippians 1:12 Summary
[Paul is saying that even though he is in a tough spot, God is using it to help spread the gospel, which is the good news about Jesus Christ, as seen in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. This means that God can take anything, even the hard things, and use them for good, as promised in Romans 8:28. Paul's confidence in God's sovereignty is an example to us, encouraging us to trust Him in all circumstances, just like Joseph did in Genesis 50:20. By trusting God and sharing the gospel with others, we can be a part of advancing God's kingdom, as Jesus taught in Matthew 28:18-20.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Paul mean by 'my circumstances' in Philippians 1:12?
Paul is referring to his imprisonment, as mentioned in Philippians 1:13-14, which he believes has ultimately served to advance the gospel, as seen in his confidence in the Lord despite his chains, similar to his attitude in Romans 8:28.
How can difficult circumstances advance the gospel?
According to Paul, even in difficult situations like imprisonment, God can use them for good, as seen in Philippians 1:12, and as the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, 'And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose'
Is Paul saying that his imprisonment was a good thing?
Paul is not saying that his imprisonment was good in itself, but rather that God used it for good, to advance the gospel, similar to Joseph's statement in Genesis 50:20, 'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives'
What can we learn from Paul's attitude in this verse?
We can learn to trust God's sovereignty, even in difficult circumstances, and to look for ways that He can use us to advance the gospel, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God'
Reflection Questions
- How have you seen God use difficult circumstances in your life to advance the gospel or bring about good?
- What are some ways that you can trust God's sovereignty in the midst of challenging situations, like Paul did in Philippians 1:12?
- How can you use your current circumstances, whether easy or difficult, to share the gospel with those around you, as Paul did in his imprisonment?
- What does it mean for you to 'advance the gospel' in your daily life, and how can you be more intentional about doing so, as encouraged in Matthew 28:18-20?
Gill's Exposition on Philippians 1:12
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Philippians 1:12
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
Trapp's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
Ellicott's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
Cambridge Bible on Philippians 1:12
Barnes' Notes on Philippians 1:12
Whedon's Commentary on Philippians 1:12
Sermons on Philippians 1:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Costa Rica) Trusting God With All Your Tomorrows by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher talks about the Apostle Paul and how he was chained to circumstances he couldn't change. The preacher shares the story of a pastor whose ministry was a |
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The Supply of the Spirit by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to be in control of every aspect of our lives. He shares the joy he experiences i |
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Paul Rejoices Over Preaching by Enemies by John R. Rice | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of preaching the gospel as the main purpose of a Christian's life. He quotes Jesus' words that the Son of Man came to seek an |
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Imperatives - Enlarged Vision and Experience by Devern Fromke | In this sermon, the speaker recalls a conversation with two young girls about writing a theme on God's ultimate purpose in the universe. He emphasizes that understanding this large |
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Trusting God With All Your Tomorrows by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting God with all your tomorrows, encouraging listeners to surrender their worries and fears about the future to God. It highlights the |
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How Do I Find the Strength of Christ? by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker begins by discussing a powerful and clean movie that can be enjoyed by families without any discomfort. He emphasizes the importance of supporting filmm |
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(Genesis) 46 - Jacob in the Crucible of Divine Discipline by S. Lewis Johnson | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Genesis chapter 30, which explores the story of Rachel and Leah and the fruit of polygamy. The chapter begins with Rachel's jealousy and env |





