Philippians 1:12–26, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
Philippians 1:12–26
Prison Has Not Stopped the Gospel
Chains make Christ known; remaining is for their joy.
Paul reports that what has happened to him has actually advanced the gospel: the whole imperial guard knows his bonds are in Christ, and many brothers speak the word more boldly. Some preach from envy, some from love; he rejoices that Christ is proclaimed either way. Imprisonment here is costly witness, not a prosperity story, and it is not a warrant to chase reckless danger.
He weighs life and death: to live is Christ and to die is gain. He would rather depart and be with Christ, yet remaining in the flesh is more necessary for them. He is convinced he will remain for their progress and joy of faith. The church's good, not a private thrill of risk, decides his preference.
How this should shape us
If hardship comes, ask how it can make Christ clearer, not how it can prove you are brave or guarantee a better outcome. Stay for people who need you rather than romanticizing danger.
Teach it back
Explain Philippians 1:12–26 in your own words. State its main movement, why it appears here, and one boundary on application.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
What does 'this shall turn to my salvation' mean?
Why it fits: Salvation can mean concrete deliverance, and Paul later expresses confidence about remaining alive.
Difficulty: He explicitly includes death as a way Christ may be magnified.
Why it fits: The Job echo, shame-vindication language, prayer, Spirit, and life-or-death range fit final vindication.
Difficulty: Paul's immediate legal danger remains part of the lived setting.
Why it fits: Paul can be vindicated through faithful witness whether released or executed.
Difficulty: The breadth must not become vague.
Best judgment: Ultimate vindication expressed through faithful, unashamed witness is strongest; it includes the present crisis without promising release.
How certain? strongResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: The KJV wording and immediate English context for Philippians 1:12–26.
eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Philippians 1; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording and punctuation used as the base text for this passage.
Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Phil.txt, Philippians 1, verses within Philippians 1:12–26.
Supports: Material English translation choices, syntax notes, and textual variants identified for this passage.
NET Bible, Philippians 1, translator and textual notes attached to the verses in Philippians 1:12–26.
Supports: Passage structure, historical setting, Greek analysis, and interpretive alternatives tested against the primary text.
Paul A. Holloway, Philippians: A Commentary (Hermeneia), pp. 84–101.
Supports: A cross-check of the Greek forms and reasonable lexical range for words surfaced to readers.
STEP Bible Data repository, Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Greek lexical records, Philippians 1, verses within Philippians 1:12–26.
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The KJV wording and immediate English context for Philippians 1:12–26.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Philippians 1; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording and punctuation used as the base text for this passage.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Phil.txt, Philippians 1, verses within Philippians 1:12–26.
Open the Philippians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Philippians with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Material English translation choices, syntax notes, and textual variants identified for this passage.
Exact location: NET Bible, Philippians 1, translator and textual notes attached to the verses in Philippians 1:12–26.
Open NET Philippians 1 ↗A major interpretive source
Philippians: A Commentary
Paul A. Holloway
Fortress Press, Hermeneia, 2017
Supports: Passage structure, historical setting, Greek analysis, and interpretive alternatives tested against the primary text.
Exact location: Paul A. Holloway, Philippians: A Commentary (Hermeneia), pp. 84–101.
Open the book record ↗Lexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: A cross-check of the Greek forms and reasonable lexical range for words surfaced to readers.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository, Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Greek lexical records, Philippians 1, verses within Philippians 1:12–26.
Open source ↗