Philippians 1:15

Some indeed preach Christ, &c.— It is very proper here to inquire who these preachers were, the rightly stating of which may give some light to this Epistle. There can be no doubt that they must have been professed converts to the Christian religion; for no unconverted Jews or Gentiles would ever give themselves the trouble to preach Christ; and in all probability these preachers must have been converts from Judaism; for, first, by comparing what St. Paul says in his other Epistles, it appears, that the greatest opposition, disturbance, or hindrance that he met with from any who professed themselves Christians, was from them: nor could he, indeed, well be opposed, by any others but Jewish converts, or such as were seduced by, and fell in with them. Secondly, who besides these were likely to endeavour to add affliction to St. Paul's bonds?—He continually represents the cause of his bonds to be his preaching and asserting the liberty of the Gentiles. Now they who were most displeased with that conduct which brought his sufferings upon him, were likely enough to be most forward in endeavouring to aggravate his trouble under them;—and who could they be but the Jewish converts?