Philippians 1:12

Amplified Bible

Now I want you to know, believers, that what has happened to me [this imprisonment that was meant to stop me] has actually served to advance [the spread of] the good news [regarding salvation].

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that all that has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News.

Revised Standard Version
I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I wolde ye vnderstode brethern that my busynes is happened vnto the greater furtherynge of the gospell.

Hebrew Names Version
Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News;

New American Standard Bible
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,

New Century Version
I want you brothers and sisters to know that what has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News.

Update Bible Version
Now I would have you know, brothers, that the things [which happened] to me have fallen out rather to the progress of the gospel;

Webster's Bible Translation
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things [which happened] to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel;

English Standard Version
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

World English Bible
Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the gospel;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things concerning me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel:

Weymouth's New Testament
Now I would have you know, brethren, that what I have gone through has turned out to the furtherance of the Good News rather than otherwise.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For, britheren, Y wole that ye wite, that the thingis that ben aboute me han comun more to the profit of the gospel,

English Revised Version
Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;

Berean Standard Bible
Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.

Contemporary English Version
My dear friends, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped to spread the good news.

American Standard Version
Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;

Bible in Basic English
Now it is my purpose to make clear to you, brothers, that the cause of the good news has been helped by my experiences;

Complete Jewish Bible
Now, brothers, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped in advancing the Good News.

Darby Translation
But I would have you know, brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have turned out rather to the furtherance of the glad tidings,

International Standard Version
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually turned out for the progress of the gospel.

Etheridge Translation
BUT I wish you to know, my brethren, that my business tendeth the more to the forwarding of the gospel.

Murdock Translation
And I would that ye might know, my brethren, that the transaction in regard to me, hath eventuated rather for the furtherance of the gospel;

King James Version (1611)
But I would yee should vnderstand brethren, that the things which happened vnto mee, haue fallen out rather vnto the furtherance of the Gospel.

New Living Translation
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.

New Life Bible
Christian brothers, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped spread the Good News.

New Revised Standard
I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel,

Geneva Bible (1587)
I would ye vnderstood, brethren, that the things which haue come vnto me, are turned rather to the furthering of the Gospell,

George Lamsa Translation
Now I would have you know this, my brethren, that my work has been greatly furthered by the gospel;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Howbeit, I am minded, brethren, that ye should be, getting to know, that, the things which relate unto myself, rather, unto an advancement of the glad-message, have fallen out,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now, brethren, I desire you should know that the things which have happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But I woulde ye should vnderstande brethren, that the thinges which [came] vnto me, hath come rather vnto the furtheraunce of the Gospell:

Good News Translation
I want you to know, my friends, that the things that have happened to me have really helped the progress of the gospel.

Christian Standard Bible®
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel,

King James Version
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Lexham English Bible
Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have happened instead for the progress of the gospel,

Literal Translation
But I want you to know, brothers, that the things concerning me have more fully come to the advancement of the gospel,

Young's Literal Translation
And I wish you to know, brethren, that the things concerning me, rather to an advancement of the good news have come,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I wolde ye vnderstode brethren, that my busynes is happened vnto the greater furtheraunce of the Gospell,

Mace New Testament (1729)
Now I would have you know, my brethren, that what has happen'd to me, has only conduc'd to the progress of the gospel;

THE MESSAGE
I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I'm in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they've learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.

New English Translation
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel:

New King James Version
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Y'all need to understand that everything that has happened to me has paved the way for the good news to spread like a wildfire through old grass.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,

Contextual Overview

¹²Now I want you to know, believers, that what has happened to me [this imprisonment that was meant to stop me] has actually served to advance [the spread of] the good news [regarding salvation].¹³My imprisonment in [the cause of] Christ has become common knowledge throughout the whole praetorian (imperial) guard and to everyone else. ¹⁴Because of my chains [seeing that I am doing well and that God is accomplishing great things], most of the brothers have renewed confidence in the Lord, and have far more courage to speak the word of God [concerning salvation] without fear [of the consequences, seeing that God can work His good in all circumstances]. ¹⁵Some, it is true, are [actually] preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry [toward me—for no better reason than a competitive spirit or misguided ambition], but others out of goodwill and a loyal spirit [toward me]. ¹⁶The latter [preach Christ] out of love, because they know that I have been put here [by God on purpose] for the defense of the gospel; ¹⁷but the former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self-promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment. ¹⁸What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice [later as well], ¹⁹for I know [with confidence] that this will turn out for my deliverance and spiritual well-being, through your prayers and the [superabundant] supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ [which upholds me]. ²⁰It is my own eager expectation and hope, that [looking toward the future] I will not disgrace myself nor be ashamed in anything, but that with courage and the utmost freedom of speech, even now as always, Christ will be magnified and exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that: Acts 21:28-36, Acts 22:1-30, Acts 28:1-31

rather: Exodus 18:11, Esther 9:1, Psalms 76:10, Acts 8:4, Acts 11:19-21, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:37, 2 Timothy 2:9

Reciprocal: Judges 14:14 - Out of the eater Acts 4:4 - many Acts 8:1 - and they Acts 19:21 - I must Acts 25:12 - unto Caesar shalt Romans 15:32 - I may Ephesians 3:13 - at Ephesians 6:21 - that 2 Timothy 4:17 - by

Cross-References

Genesis 1:10
God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that this was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it.

Genesis 1:11
So God said, "Let the earth sprout [tender] vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind, whose seed is in them upon the earth"; and it was so.

Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind: livestock, crawling things, and wild animals of the earth according to their kinds"; and it was so [because He had spoken them into creation].

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth."

Isaiah 61:11
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, So the Lord GOD will [most certainly] cause righteousness and justice and praise To spring up before all the nations [through the power of His word].

Mark 4:28
"The earth produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head [of grain], then the mature grain in the head.

Luke 6:44
"For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit. For figs are not picked from thorn bushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a briar bush.

2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing [that is, your resources] and increase the harvest of your righteousness [which shows itself in active goodness, kindness, and love].

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But I would ye should understand, brethren,.... 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, דסוערני דילי, "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; 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But I would ye should understand - Paul here turns to himself, and goes into a somewhat extended account of his own feelings in his trials, and of the effects of his imprisonment at Rome he wished them to understand what his circumstances were, and what had been the effect of his imprisonment, probably, for such reasons as these:

(1) They were tenderly attached to him, and would feel an interest in all that pertained to him.

(2) It was possible that they might hear unfounded rumors about the manner of his treatment, and he wished that they should understand the exact truth.

(3) He had real intelligence to communicate to them that would be joyful to them, about the effect of his imprisonment, and his treatment there; and he wished them to rejoice with him.

That the things which happened unto me - The accusations against him, and his imprisonment at Rome. He had been falsely accused, and had been constrained to appeal to Caesar, and had been taken to Rome as a prisoner; Acts 25–28. This arrest and imprisonment would seem to have been against his success as a preacher; but he now says that the contrary had been the fact.

Have fallen out - Have resulted in. Literally, “have come.” Tyndale. “My business is happened.”

The furtherance - The increase, the promotion of the gospel. Instead of being a hindrance, they have been rather an advantage.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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 defence 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.