Read Philippians 1.12-30
In 1.12-26: Suffering for the gospel.
Spread (v. 12) and progress (v.25) are the same word in Greek, unifying the two parts of the passage: Paul's joy in proclaiming Christ despite his imprisonment (1.12-18a); and his joy in the exhalation of Christ in his body whether lives or dies (1.18b-26).
Everything else--love, envy, life, or death-is relative to his joy.
Imprisonment (1.12-26) is an example of placing the needs of others above personal concerns.
In verse 12: Spread or "progress," clearing (literally "cutting") a path for an army: see v. 25.
In verse 13: Whole imperial guard in Rome, "pratorium" is the emperor's elite soldiers, in Asia Minor, it is the provincial residence of any Roman administrator.
In verse 16: defense of the gospel, the effort to convince outsiders of the gospel's values.
In verse 20: Put to shame, made ashamed because of the paradox of good news about the shameful death of Jesus.
Paul will not be ashamed because his circumstances exalt Christ.
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