Filipenses 1:18

18 ¿Qué importa? Al fin y al cabo, y sea como sea, con motivos falsos o con sinceridad, se predica a Cristo. Por eso me alegro; es más, seguiré alegrándome

Filipenses 1:18 Meaning and Commentary

Philippians 1:18

What then? notwithstanding every way
What follows from hence? what is to be concluded from all this? what is to be thought or said in this case? this, that notwithstanding these brethren acted on those different principles, and with those different views:

whether in pretence:
of love to Christ, zeal for the Gospel, and concern for the good of souls; though their real views were their own applause, and detriment to the apostle's character; or (atleb) , "by occasion", as the Syriac version renders the word, and as many interpreters think is the sense of it; occasionally preaching Christ, and making a handle of this to gain some other points, and get, advantages to themselves as some:

or in truth;
as the hearty friends of Christ and the apostle did; they not only preached Christ who is the truth, and the truth as it is in Jesus, and every truth of the Gospel; and especially that fundamental one, salvation alone by a crucified Christ, and that without any adulteration or concealing any part of it; but with great purity of mind, with integrity of heart, and in the uprightness of their souls; as of sincerity, and in the sight of God; without selfish and sinister ends, and any ambitious views and evil designs: whether it was now in the one or the other way, upon the one or the other principles and views, the apostle stood thus affected; and these were his sentiments, reflections, and resolutions, that inasmuch as

Christ is preached;
in the glory of his person, in the fulness of his grace, in the suitableness of his offices and great salvation, in the excellency of his righteousness, and the virtue of his blood, and the efficacy of his sacrifice;

and therein I do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice;
not that it was an indifferent thing with him, whether Christ was sincerely or hypocritically preached; or that he could take any pleasure in the manner of preaching, and in the principles and views of one sort of these preachers; for nothing was more disagreeable to him than envy and ambition, strife and contention, hypocrisy and insincerity; but he rejoiced in the subject matter of their ministry, which was Christ Jesus the Lord, whom he dearly loved, and whose interest, if served by any means, or any sort of persons, was a pleasure to him; and also in the effects and consequences of their ministry, the establishing of the saints, the conversion of sinners, the spread of the Gospel, and the enlargement of the interest of Christ: all which may be answered through the preaching of Christ, by evil designing men; for Christ and his Gospel are the same by whomsoever preached, and God may make use of his own truths to answer his ends and purposes, whoever are the dispensers of them, and though they themselves may be cast away, as Judas and others.

Filipenses 1:18 In-Context

16 Estos últimos lo hacen por amor, pues saben que he sido puesto para la defensa del evangelio.

17 Aquellos predican a Cristo por ambición personal y no por motivos puros, creyendo que así van a aumentar las angustias que sufro en mi prisión.

18 ¿Qué importa? Al fin y al cabo, y sea como sea, con motivos falsos o con sinceridad, se predica a Cristo. Por eso me alegro; es más, seguiré alegrándome

19 porque sé que, gracias a las oraciones de ustedes y a la ayuda que me da el Espíritu de Jesucristo, todo esto resultará en mi liberación.

20 Mi ardiente anhelo y esperanza es que en nada seré avergonzado, sino que con toda libertad, ya sea que yo viva o muera, ahora como siempre, Cristo será exaltado en mi cuerpo.