SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:12
¶ Y quiero, hermanos, que sepis que las cosas que me han sucedido , han redundado ms en provecho del Evangelio;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Philippians 1:12
Verse 12. That the things which happened unto me] St. Paul was at this time a prisoner at Rome, and it appears probable that he had already been called to make a defense for himself, and to vindicate the doctrines of the Gospel; and this he had been enabled to do in such a manner that the honour of the Gospel had been greatly promoted by it. As the Philippians loved him greatly, he felt it right to give them this information relative to his state, and how God had turned his bonds to the advantage of that cause on account of which he was bound.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. But I would ye should understand, brethren , etc.] The church at Philippi having heard of the apostle's troubles, he was very desirous that they should have a true and right understanding of them, and especially of the use they had been of, and were like to be of more and more; and that partly that such as were weak among them might not be offended and staggered, and partly that all might be comforted; as also that they might be animated and encouraged hereby to endure, with patience and cheerfulness, whatsoever afflictions might befall them for the sake of Christ: his sufferings are more obscurely expressed in the next clause, and more clearly in ( Philippians 1:13), that the things [which happened] unto me ; by which he intends, not anything done by him, or his labour in the ministry, which had been greatly succeeded for the spread of the Gospel; as the Syriac version suggests, rendering the phrase, ylyd ynr[wsd , that my work makes more abundant progress in the Gospel: but his sufferings on account of the Gospel, which though said to happen, were not things of chance but of appointment; for as all the sufferings of Christ the head, were by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, so are those of all the members of his mystical body, and of his ministers who are appointed to these things, and they for them; of which Christ has given previous notice, so that they do not come unexpected, but are looked for by them; nor are they over distressed with them, being supported with the presence, Spirit, grace, and favour of God; hence they can rejoice in them, in hope of the glory of God; and as the afflictions of Gospel ministers, the quality and quantity of them, are fixed and settled by divine appointment, and which accordingly come upon them, so the use of them is also determined, and which have their sure and certain effect as the apostle's had; for the very things by which men designed to have hindered the spread of the Gospel, he says, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel . The Gospel, though it is good news and glad tidings of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by Christ; yet is very disagreeable to carnal men, they are enemies to it; and do all they can to stop its progress, to shut the open door of it, and hinder its course by speaking reproachfully of it, and writing against it, and especially by persecuting its professors, and particularly its ministers; which oftentimes proves rather a furtherance than an hinderance of it; for hereby the Gospel, like gold and silver tried in the fire, shines out the more brightly, with more lustre and glory, and has the greater influence on the minds of men; persecution in one place has often been the means of carrying and spreading the Gospel in many others; (see Acts 8:1,5,6 11:19-21); and has been God's ordinance for the conversion of multitudes of souls, where it has been the fiercest and hottest; insomuch that it became a common saying in primitive times, that the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church; and hereby also the Gospel has been confirmed, and they that have embraced it have been the more established in it. The apostle's sufferings and bonds were for the confirmation and defence of the Gospel.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-20 - The apostle was a prisoner at Rome; and to take off the offence of the cross, he shows the wisdom and goodness of God in his sufferings. Thes things made him known, where he would never have otherwise been known and led some to inquire after the gospel. He suffered from fals friends, as well as from enemies. How wretched the temper of those wh preached Christ out of envy and contention, and to add affliction to the bonds that oppressed this best of men! The apostle was easy in the midst of all. Since our troubles may tend to the good of many, we ough to rejoice. Whatever turns to our salvation, is by the Spirit of Christ; and prayer is the appointed means of seeking for it. Ou earnest expectation and hope should not be to be honoured of men, or to escape the cross, but to be upheld amidst temptation, contempt, an affliction. Let us leave it to Christ, which way he will make u serviceable to his glory, whether by labour or suffering, by diligenc or patience, by living to his honour in working for him, or dying to his honour in suffering for him.
Greek Textus Receptus
γινωσκειν 1097 5721 δε 1161 υμας 5209 βουλομαι 1014 5736 αδελφοι 80 οτι 3754 τα 3588 κατ 2596 εμε 1691 μαλλον 3123 εις 1519 προκοπην 4297 του 3588 ευαγγελιου 2098 εληλυθεν 2064 5754
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. Rather (mallon). For the furtherance of the Gospel rather than, as might have been expected, for its hindrance.
Furtherance (prokophn). Only here, ver. 25, and 1 Tim. iv. 15. The metaphor is uncertain, but is supposed to be that of pioneers cutting (koptw) a way before (pro) an army, and so furthering its march. The opposite is expressed by ejgkoptw to cut into; hence to throw obstacles in the way, hinder. Gal. v. 7. See on 1 Pet. iii. 7.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:12 {The things which happened unto me} (ta kat' eme). "The things concerning me" = "my affairs" as common in Josephus. {Have fallen out rather} (mallon elluthen). "Have come rather." Second perfect active indicative of ercomai. {Unto the progress} (eis prokopen). Late word from prokoptw, common verb, to cut or strike forward, but this late substantive does not occur in classical Greek. It is a technical term in Stoic philosophy for "progress toward wisdom" and it appears also in the papyri and the LXX. In N.T. only here, verse #25; 1Ti 4:15.
