Philippians 1:17

“but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds”

“But”: In contrast to those motivated by love and goodwill. “Faction”: “It came to describe self-seeking and selfish ambition, which was out to advance itself and did not care to what methods it stooped to attain its ends. So there were those who preached the harder now that Paul was in prison, for his imprisonment seemed to present them with. heaven-sent opportunity to advance their own influence and prestige and lessen his” (Barclay p. 23). This verse should make all preachers and teachers seriously consider their motives, seeing that one can preach the truth and teach sound doctrine for all the wrong reasons. Even in the church,. man can be preaching solely for the human praise he receives. Someone once asked. young preacher, “Do you love to preach to people?” The young man answered with an energetic, “I sure do!” Then he was asked the next question, “But do you love the people that you preach to?” “Not sincerely”: “Not with pure intent” (ABUV). They may have started preaching from pure motives. “They crave honor and prestige, at least they have permitted this motive to crowd the nobler incentives into. corner” (Hendriksen p. 72). “Thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds”: “Imagining that they are making my imprisonment harder to bear” (Gspd). “The news of what they were doing, they thought (and hoped) would fill Paul with chagrin and frustration” (Bruce p. 44). “They are determined to rub salt into the apostle's wounds! Can you imagine brethren so consumed with envy and self-interest?” (Jackson p. 32). The reason they "imagined" such, is because they thought that Paul was filled with the same type of motives, as filled them. They thought that Paul was just as "jealous" as they were, but how little did they understand the man whom they intended to inflict.