Philippians 1:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Indeed, if "a brother helped by a brother is like a strong city" (Prov 18:19), then much more could so many, bound by the bonds of love, repel every design of the wicked demon.

Therefore we need neither bring proofs nor say that Paul was attached to the disciples, since even when bound he cared for them, and every day died for them, burned by intense longing.

That the disciples were attached to Paul with all zeal, and not only men but also women, hear what he says about Phoebe: "I commend to you Phoebe our sister, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae. Receive her in the Lord, as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well" (Rom 16:1-2).

Here he testifies to her zeal, which extended to protection. Priscilla and Aquila were devoted to Paul even unto death, as he writes of them: "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who laid down their necks for my life," that is, they went toward death (Rom 16:3-4).

And again, of another, in the epistle to these same Philippians, he says: "For the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life, to complete what was lacking in your service to me" (Phil 2:30).

Do you see how they loved the teacher? Do you see how they thought of his rest more than their own soul? Therefore no one then surpassed them.

I say this not merely so that we may listen, but so that we may imitate. I extend my word not only to those who are subject, but also to those who rule. Let disciples show great care for teachers, and let teachers have Paul's tenderness toward those subject to them, not only toward those present, but also toward those far away.

Truly, dwelling in the whole inhabited world as though in one house, Paul cared for the salvation of all. Leaving aside all his own things, chains, afflictions, wounds, and constraints, he learned and inquired each day about the state of the disciples. Often for this very reason he sent now Timothy, now Tychicus.

Of the latter he says, "that he may comfort your hearts" (Eph 6:22). Of Timothy he says: "When I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor should be in vain" (1 Thess 3:5).

He also sent Titus to another place, and someone else elsewhere. Since he himself was often necessarily detained by chains in one place, he could not be with those who were as his inward parts. Therefore he communicated with them through his disciples.

Thus, being then in chains, he writes to the Philippians: "I want you to know, brethren," calling the disciples brethren. Such is love. It rejects every inequality and knows no superiority or rank. Even if someone were higher than all, it descends to the lowest of all, as Paul also did.

Let us hear, then, what he wishes to communicate to them. "My circumstances have served rather for the greater progress of the gospel." How, tell me, and in what manner? Have you been released from prison? Have you put off the chain and preached fearlessly in the city?

Have you entered the church, spoken long and many words about the faith, acquired many disciples, and then departed? Have you raised the dead and become wondrous? Have you cleansed lepers, so that absolutely everyone was struck with amazement? Have you driven out demons and been exalted?

No, he says, nothing of the kind. How then, tell me, did the progress of the gospel come about? "So that my chains in Christ have become known throughout the whole praetorium and to all the rest."

“If the one in bonds had borne his bonds with grief and kept silent, then naturally the others would have been in the same condition. But since the one in bonds acted still more boldly, he gave them more boldness than if he had not been bound.

“But since it was a great thing to say that my bonds produced boldness in them, he first said, ‘in the Lord.’ Do you see how the Apostle, even when compelled to boast, does not abandon modesty?” (St. John Chrysostom).

According to Oecumenius, “boldness seized the preachers because Paul’s bonds inflamed their faith. If this preaching were not divine, they said, Paul would not have agreed to suffer such bonds for it. St. Paul’s bonds served to strengthen the preaching.”

“The things concerning me” means my circumstances, or my condition. They “have turned out rather for the furtherance of the Gospel.” This “rather” means this: they intended to constrain or cut off the Gospel by putting me in bonds.

But the opposite happened. The bonds did not constrain the preaching of the Gospel. Rather, they served for its progress and spread.

He says, “the things concerning me have turned out.” It is as though events flowed on by themselves, and see where they arrived. But his thought is this: God so ordered it.

Although he does not say this directly, his word directly leads to it. The Gospel is from above, and from above it is protected. You cannot bind it or restrain it with bonds.

It goes on its own way, despite every effort of men. “What are you saying? You are in bonds, you are being hindered. How, then, does the Gospel advance?” (St. Chrysostom).