“What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice and will continue to rejoice — Paul's extraordinary magnanimity (what then = ti oun, a rhetorical turn) transcends partisan concern: the preaching itself, regardless of motive, serves the gospel's advance. His repeated rejoicing (chairō kai chairēsomai, present and future joy) is not naive optimism but theological conviction that even human vice cannot thwart God's purpose. This is the letter's spiritual center.
Church Fathers on Philippians 1:18
“What then? Only that every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is proclaimed.” But see the wisdom of the Man. He did not vehemently accuse them, but mentioned the result; what difference does it make to me, says he, whether it be done in this or that way? Only that every way, “whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed.” He did not say, “Let him be proclaimed,” as some suppose, stating that he opens the way for the heresies, but, “He is proclaimed.” For…
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