The Apostle calls God as his witness not because he feared distrust, but because he cannot express in words his great heartfelt affection, leaving this to God, who searches the hearts. And this is a clear proof of his sincerity. For if he were flattering them, he would not call God as his witness. He said: "with the love of Jesus Christ," that is, not for anything human, not because you sent what I needed, but with love for God's sake. Or, having become your father through faith in Christ, I love you not with a fleshly love, but with that love which Christ gives to His true servants who beget for Him children of the Gospel. I embrace all of you with great love, because all of you are such.
Phil. 1:9. I pray for this, that your love may abound yet more and more.
Though he is loved so much, he still desires to be loved even more, because it is the nature of love never to stand still. Pay attention to his turn of phrase, which he intensifies further when he says: "grew more and more." He says this so that they would love not him alone, but others as well.
Phil. 1:9. In knowledge and all discernment,
That is, so that you would love not simply, but with discernment and confidence and examination, because there are many who love indiscriminately, which is why such love is never lasting. Or so that you would not love heretics.
Phil. 1:10. so that, recognizing what is best,
That is, what is beneficial. If you love prudently and with discernment, then you can choose what is beneficial and distinguish who is worthy of love, that is, the faithful, and who is not worthy, that is, the unfaithful. But how then does he say in another place: "be at peace with all men" (Rom. 12:18)? First, he did not say this unconditionally, but with a qualification: "if it be possible, be at peace with all men." Then, it is one thing to be at peace, and another to love; the first means not to be hostile, but love requires a disposition of the soul and, as it were, a merging and identity of character, which should not be shown toward heretics. For "if your right eye offends you, pluck it out" (Matt. 5:29).
Phil. 1:10. You were pure and blameless in the day of Christ,
I say this not for my own benefit, but so that you do not, under the pretext of love, accept some false teaching. He said "pure" — this is before God, "without offense" — this is before people; because although friendship with a heretic does not harm you, it scandalizes another; and if you scandalize your brothers, then how will you appear pure in the day of Christ?
Phil. 1:11. Filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
That is, so that in accordance with the correctness of teaching you would also lead a blameless life. By righteousness the apostle means every virtue, or specifically mercy. I do not say that you should practice virtue or mercy imperfectly, but that you should be filled with them. And since the Greeks also thought to attribute virtue and mercy to themselves, he added "by Jesus Christ," since their deeds are not according to Christ, but for the sake of vainglory and people-pleasing. "To the glory of God," that is, and not to the glory of me, who teaches this; you must not hinder the glory of God. At the same time he also encourages them, as if saying that God will assist them in the work which they will perform to His glory.
Phil. 1:12. But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the greater advancement of the gospel,
Apparently, the Philippians, having learned that Paul was in chains, were worried that this might serve as an obstacle to the preaching of the Gospel. Therefore, in order to eliminate this suspicion, Paul says that his bonds not only did not hinder my preaching of the Gospel, but, on the contrary, served for its greater success.
Phil. 1:13. So that my bonds in Christ have become manifest in all the praetorium and to all the rest,
That is, although I am bound, I speak with even greater boldness and do not remain silent, but my preaching has reached even the praetorium itself, that is, the royal palace itself, and has spread throughout the entire city. And this was accomplished "in Christ," that is, this is not my doing, but Christ's. Or: "my bonds in Christ," that is, the bonds which I endure for Christ.
Phil. 1:14. And most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.
And before they preached boldly, but now even more so, seeing me preaching boldly, even though I am in chains. For when they saw me in chains, they felt even greater zeal for preaching. And since it seemed too strong for Paul to say: I inspired them, he added: "in the Lord." So then, if those who are close to my chains are not troubled, but take on even greater boldness, then all the more fitting is this for you.
Phil. 1:15. Some, indeed, out of envy and contention, while others with good will, preach Christ.
After Paul was seized, many from among the unbelievers began to preach Christ, wishing by this to arouse Nero to greater wrath, so that he would put Paul to death as quickly as possible, since through him the preaching was spreading everywhere. This is what the words "out of envy and strife" mean. Or else, they began to preach Christ because they wanted to receive honor for themselves and take something away from my glory. But others, he says, preached Christ "with good will," that is, without hypocrisy and truly.
Phil. 1:16. Some preach Christ out of contentiousness, not purely,
That is, insincerely, not for the sake of the good itself.
Phil. 1:16. Thinking they would increase the burden of my chains;
Thinking, he says, thereby to subject me to greater danger and to add sorrow to sorrow. But this scheme will not succeed for them; because the preaching through this becomes more glorious, and my joy will increase through this. Do you see that a good deed should not be done without good disposition, and that it is possible not only to receive no reward, but also to be subjected to punishment.
Phil. 1:17. and others out of love, knowing that I am appointed to defend the gospel.
That is, others out of love both for God and for me preach the Gospel, knowing that I must give an account of my preaching, and for this reason they assist me in this work. For if many join my preaching, it will be easy for me to defend the Gospel. In this way they assist me, teaching many.