Philippians 1:14

Verse

And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.

American Standard Version (1901)

and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

Bible in Basic English

And most of the brothers in the Lord, taking heart because of my chains, are all the stronger to give the word of God without fear.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And many of the brethren in the Lord, growing confident by my bands, are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.

Free Bible Version

and because of my chains most of the Christians here have been encouraged to speak God's word boldly and fearlessly!

Geneva Bible 1599

In so much that many of the brethren in the Lord are boldened through my bandes, and dare more frankely speake the word.

King James (Authorized) Version

And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Plain English Version

And the Christians here heard that I’m in jail. Then most of them trusted in our leader Jesus more strongly and got brave, and they are not frightened to tell other people God’s message.

Translation for Translators

Also, most of the believers here now proclaim the message from God more courageously and fearlessly because they trust the Lord more firmly to help them. They trust the Lord more because they have seen how the Lord has helped me while I have been a prisoner [MTY] here.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Most of the brothers have far more confidence in the Lord because of my chains, and they have courage to fearlessly speak the word.

Noah Webster Bible

And many of the brethren in the Lord, becoming confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

World English Bible

and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

Young's Literal Translation

and the greater part of the brethren in the Lord, having confidence by my bonds, are more abundantly bold — fearlessly to speak the word.

Context

Paul’s Trials Advance the Gospel

¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.

Sermons

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Summary

In Philippians 1:14, the apostle Paul expresses joy and gratitude that his imprisonment has actually served to advance the gospel. Despite facing adversity and being confined, Paul sees how God is using his circumstances to spread the message of Christ. This verse highlights the power of God to work through challenging situations for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom. It also serves as a reminder that even in difficult times, God can bring about good and accomplish His purposes through the faithful obedience of His servants.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Waxing confident - Finding the effect produced by the public defense which the apostle made, they were greatly encouraged, and the more boldly and openly proclaimed the doctrine of Christ crucified. The word - The doctrine of Christ; several excellent MSS. and versions add, some Θεου, others Κυριου, the word of God, or the word of the Lord. This is a respectable reading, and is probably genuine.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And many of the brethren in the Lord,.... This is another instance of the usefulness of the apostle's sufferings, and another proof of their being for the furtherance of the Gospel; they were not only the means of the conversion of many that were without, but were very encouraging and strengthening to them that were within the church, and to many that were in the ministry; who are called "brethren", some real, others nominal; being partakers of the grace of God, at least in profession, or otherwise they would not have been fit to have been ministers of the word, nor members of a Gospel church, which was necessary to their being regularly sent forth; and whom the apostle calls and owns as brethren in the ministry, being sent forth by Christ, at least some of them, and having the same commission to preach the Gospel as he had; though they had not equal gifts and qualifications with him: he styles them brethren "in the Lord", to distinguish them from the Jews at Rome, who were his brethren according to the flesh; and to express their spiritual character and relation, and point out the work of the Lord, in which they were jointly concerned with him: now though not all the brethren, yet many of them were greatly affected with, and influenced by the apostle's patient and cheerfully suffering for Christ; insomuch that, as he says, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear; or as some read it, "waxing confident in the Lord"; connecting the phrase, "in the Lord", with this word, and so make the ground and object of their confidence the Lord; whose presence, power, grace, and Spirit, emboldened them the more by the apostle's bonds to preach the Gospel with courage and intrepidity; the Lord being on their side, and their helper, they feared not what men could do unto them; or else being animated by the apostle's patience and firmness of mind in suffering, and by the use they saw his bonds were of for the spread of the Gospel, they took heart and courage to "speak the word"; the word "of God", as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read; and so the Alexandrian, Claromontane, and two of Stephens's copies: meaning either the essential word, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the subject of their ministry; or the written word, the writings of Moses and the prophets, the books of the Old Testament, according to which they spoke; or the Gospel, called often the word, and sometimes with an addition, the word of truth, the word of faith, the word of reconciliation, the word of righteousness, the word of life, and the word of our salvation, from the several subjects of it: this they spake boldly and freely, as it ought to be spoken, and "without fear", not without fear and reverence of God, whose word it is; nor of themselves and their own weakness and inabilities, which cause much fear and trembling; but without the fear of man, which brings a snare; they had no regard to the threats and menaces, the reproaches and persecutions of men; none of these things moved them; they feared God and not man, and so went on boldly, preaching the Gospel; which is related with pleasure, as a fruit and effect of the apostle's sufferings, and which he doubted not would be very delightful to the Philippians to hear of.