Reading:
But
I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which
happened
unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
So
that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all
other places;
And
many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are
much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Some
indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good
will:
The
one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add
affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am
set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every
way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I
therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this
shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the
Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Commentary:
The apostle Paul here teaches that his
imprisonment was for the "furtherance of the Gospel",
namely God would bring good of this evil. While God "is angry
with the wicked every day", His wisdom far exceeds the "wisdom"
of the wicked on earth. When persecution happens so that Christians
are thrown in jail, God allows such so more will hear the Gospel and
believe. How does this take place? When Christians are pressed sore
by trial, they bring forth more fruit by the Holy Spirit…."Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more
fruit."
The Christian pastors in Paul's day thus took more dearly to heart
the meaning of persecution, by Paul's suffering. What was at stake
impressed them most deeply. God granted them to be bold, to work
harder during the day before the night came. Some however, preached
Christ of contention. Namely some sought a personal following by
their preaching, and they strove with their "competitors"
for love of the people. While this was shameful and it hurt Paul, he
still had some comfort the Christ was yet being preached.
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