Philippians 1:12-14 Good has come of this...

The benediction I love, found in Phil. 1:9-11, is not the last word.  In fact, Paul is just getting started.  So let’s look at Philippians 1:12-14.

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers,
that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard
and to everyone else
that I am in chains for Christ.
¹⁴ Because of my chains,
most of the brothers in the Lord
have been encouraged to speak the word of God
more courageously and fearlessly.

- New International Version (NIV)

The little New Testament I keep in my purse is NIV.  And in general, I like the NIV translation on these verses.  Verses 12-13 are quite readable and easy to understand.  I did find myself making two changes to the NIV: 

(a)  I changed “brothers” to “brothers and sisters,” because the Greek word includes both men and women.  And since the letter to the Philippians later addresses some women by name, we know that there are women in the group of people Paul addresses here as adelphoi. 

(b)  I found myself saying “actually” instead of “really” near the end of verse twelve.

This evening, I consulted TNIV and discovered, word-for-word, the text that I had been memorizing!

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,

that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

- Today’s New International Version (TNIV)

Now, how shall I approach verse 14? 
·         Can I say “brothers and sisters” in both verse 12 and verse 14 without sounding awkward?
·         How can I help my listener hear the difference between the “brothers and sisters” in verse 12 [the addressees of the letter] and the “brothers and sisters” in verse 14 [the Christians in contact with Paul who are preaching more courageously now that he is in prison]?
·         What does “in the Lord” refer to?  Are we talking about “brothers and sisters in the Lord,” or brothers and sisters who are “confident in the Lord”?
·         When do I want to say “chains” and when “imprisonment”?  “Imprisonment” would tie to verse 7 the way I’ve memorized it.  But “chains” is easier to internalize from hearing it.  I’m not sure I have to completely choose one or the other option.

¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else

that I am in chains for Christ.
¹⁴ And because of my chains,
most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord
and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

- Today’s New International Version (TNIV)

¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else
that my imprisonment is for Christ;
¹⁴ and most of the brothers and sisters,
having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment,
dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. 

- New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

¹³ For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard,

knows that I am in chains because of Christ.

¹⁴ And because of my imprisonment,

many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold

in telling others about Christ. 

- New Living Translation (NLT)

I am going to borrow a bit from the New Living Translation, even though it’s not quite as literal a translation.  I want to say “the Christians here,” even though that’s not the actual word Paul used.  It gives the message of Paul’s letter, helping today’s listeners more clearly differentiate between Philippian “brothers” and the “brothers” who were made more bold by Paul’s imprisonment.

I like using “chains” in both verses 13-14.

I’m going to try this:

¹⁴ And because of my chains,

most of the Christians here have become confident in the Lord,

and dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.

I’m a little iffy about “speak the word”:  is it emphatic enough?  It’s a pretty literal translation of the Greek…but “preach” or “proclaim” are also shades of meaning.  “Proclaim the Word,” perhaps.  Or “proclaim the message,” or the gospel.  I think I’ll keep “Word” for now, but I want to pay attention to how “gospel” or “message” happen during the letter, and possibly modify this phrase depending on the rest of the letter…

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,
that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard
and to everyone else
that I am in chains for Christ.
¹⁴ And because of my chains,
most of the Christians here have become confident in the Lord,
and dare to proclaim the Word with greater boldness and without fear.

That’s all for now.  I’ll do some thinking about verses 15-18 this coming Monday.

 

PHILIPPIANS TIMELINE, in case you’re interested in the plan for the rest of Chapter 1

Week of November 3, 2013 - Philippians 1:12-14
Week of November 10, 2013 – Philippians 1:15-18
Week of November 17, 2013 – Philippians 1:19-21
Week of November 24, 2013 – Philippians 1:22-24
Week of December 1, 2013 - Philippians 1:25-28a
Week of December 8, 2013 – Philippians 1:28b-30