So that my bonds He employs the expression -- in Christ, to mean, in the affairs, or in the cause of Christ, for he intimates that his bonds had become illustrious, so as to promote the honor of Christ. [1] The rendering given by some -- through Christ, seems forced. I have also employed the word illustria (illustrious) in preference to manifesta, (manifest,) -- as having ennobled the gospel by their fame. [2] "Satan, indeed, has attempted it, and the wicked have thought that it would turn out so, that the gospel would be destroyed; but God has frustrated both the attempts of the former and the expectations of the latter, [3] and that in two ways, for while the gospel was previously obscure and unknown, it has come to be well known, and not only so, but has even been rendered honorable in the Praetorium, no less than in the rest of the city." By the praetorium I understand the hall and palace of Nero, which Fabius [4] and writers of that age call Augustale, (the Augustal.) For as the name praetor was at first a general term, and denoted all magistrates who held the chief sway, (hence it came that the dictator was called the sovereign praetor, [5] ) it, consequently, became customary to employ the term praetorium in war to mean the tent, either of the consul, [6] or of the person who presided, [7] while in the city it denoted the palace of Caesar, [8] from the time that the Cesars took possession of the monarchy. [9] Independently of this, the bench of praetor is also called the praetorium [10]

Footnotes

1 - "Ses liens ont este rendus celebres, et ont excellement serui a auancer la gloire de Christ;" -- "His bonds had become celebrated, and had admirably contributed to advance the glory of Christ."

2 - "Pource qu'il entend que le bruit qui auoit este de ses liens, auoit donné grand bruit a l'Euangile;" -- "Because he means that the fame, which had arisen from his bonds, had given great fame to the gospel."

3 - "Dieu a aneanti les efforts malicieux de Satan, et a frustré les meschans de leur attente;" -- "God has made void the malicious efforts of Satan, and has disappointed the wicked of their expectation."

4 - Our author has most probably in view an expression which occurs in the writings of Quinctilian, (Instit. Orator., lib. 8, 2, 8,) -- "tabernaculum ducis Augustale;" -- ("a general's tent is called the Augustal.") In the best editions of Quinctilian, however, the reading of Augurale, as synonymous with auguraculum, or auguratorium; -- (an apartment for the augur's taking omens.) -- Ed.

5 - The dictator is called by Livey, "praetor maximus;" -- "the highest praetor." -- (Liv. 7:3.) -- Ed.

6 - "La tente ou du consul, ou de celuy qui estoit chef de l'armee, quelque nom qu'on luy donast;" -- "The tent of the consul, or of the person who was head of the army, whatever name was applied to him."

7 - "Praeibat " -- There is manifestly an allusion here to the etymology of praetor, as being derived from praeire, to go before, or preside. -- Ed.

8 - "At Rome it "(the term praetorium)" signified the public hall where causes were tried by the praetor; but more usually it denoted the camp or quarters of the praetorian cohorts without the city ..... The name of praetorium was, in the provinces, given to the palace of the governors, both because they administered justice, and had their guards stationed in their residence. Hence it is inferred that, although the Apostle was at Rome when he wrote this, and although the circumstances to which he refers occurred in that city, yet, writing to persons residing in the provinces, he uses the word praetorium in the provincial sense, and means by it the emperor's palace." -- Illustrated Commentary. -- Ed.

9 - "Depuis que les empereurs usurperent la monarchie;" -- "From the time that the emperors usurped the monarchy."

10 - "Pretoire signifioit aussi le lieu ou le preteur tenoit la cour, et exerçoit sa iurisdiction;" -- "The praetorium signified also the place where the praetor held his court, and exercised jurisdiction."

So that my bonds in Christ - Margin, "for." The meaning is, his bonds in the cause of Christ. He was imprisoned because he preached Christ (see the notes, Ephesians 6:20), and was really suffering because of his attachment to the Redeemer. It was not for crime, but for being a Christian for had he not been a Christian, he would have escaped all this. The manner of Paul's imprisonment was, that he was permitted to occupy a house by himself, though chained to a soldier who was his guard; Acts 28:16. He was not in a dungeon indeed, but he was not at liberty, and this was a severe mode of confinement. Who would wish to be chained night and day to a living witness of all that he did; to a spy on all his movements? Who would wish to have such a man always with him, to hear all he said, and to see all that he did? Who could well bear the feeling that he could never be alone - and never be at liberty to do anything without the permission of one too who probably had little disposition to be indulgent?
Are manifest - That is, it has become known that I am imprisoned only for the sake of Christ - Grotius. The true reason why I am thus accused and imprisoned begins to be understood, and this has awakened sympathy for me as an injured man. They see that it is not for crime, but that it is on account of my religious opinions, and the conviction of my innocence has spread abroad, and has produced a favorable impression in regard to Christianity itself. It must have been a matter of much importance for Paul to have this knowledge of the real cause why he was imprisoned go abroad. Such a knowledge would do much to prepare others to listen to what he had to say - for there is no man to whom we listen more readily than to one who is suffering wrongfully.
In all the palace - Margin, "Or, Caesar's court." Greek, ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ πραιτωρίῳ en holō tō praitōriō - in all the praetorium. This word properly denotes the general's tent in a camp; then the house or palace of a governor of a province, then any large hall, house, or palace. It occurs in the New Testament only in the following places: Matthew 27:27, where it is rendered "common hall"; Mark 15:16, rendered "Praetorium"; John 18:28, John 18:33; John 19:9; Acts 23:35, rendered "judgment hall"; and here in Philippians 1:13. It is employed to denote:
(1) the palace of Herod at Jerusalem, built with great magnificence at the northern part of the upper city, westward of the temple, and overlooking the temple;
(2) the palace of Herod at Caesarea, which was probably occupied by the Roman procurator; and,
(3) in the place before us to denote either the palace of the emperor at Rome, or the praetorian camp, the headquarters of the praetorian guards or cohorts.
These cohorts were a body of select troops instituted by Augustus to guard his person, and have charge of the city; see Robinson (Lexicon), Bloomfield, Rosenmuller, and some others, understand this of the praetorian camp, and suppose that Paul meant to say that the cause of his imprisonment had become known to all the band of the praetorians.
Grotius says that the usual word to denote the residence of the emperor at Rome was palatium - palace, but that those who resided in the provinces were accustomed to the word "praetorium," and would use it when speaking of the palace of the emperor. Chrysostom says that the palace of the emperor was called praetorium, by a Latin word derived from the Greek; see Erasmus in loc. Calvin supposes that the palace of Nero is intended. The question about the meaning of the word is important, as it bears on the inquiry to what extent the gospel was made known at Rome in the time of Paul, and perhaps as to the question why he was released from his imprisonment. It the knowledge of his innocence had reached the palace, it was a ground of hope that he might be acquitted; and if that palace is here intended, it is an interesting fact, as showing that in some way the gospel had been introduced into the family of the emperor himself. That the palace or residence of the emperor is intended here, may be considered at least probable from the following considerations:
(1) It is the name which would be likely to be used by the Jews who came up from Judea and other provinces, to denote the chief place of judgment, or the principal residence of the highest magistrate. So it was used in Jerusalem, in Cesarea, and in the provinces generally, to denote the residence of the general in the camp, or the procurator in the cities - the highest representative of the Roman power.
(2) if the remark of Chrysostom, above referred to, be well founded, that this was a common name given to the palace in Rome, then this goes far to determine the question.
(3) in Philippians 4:22, Paul, in the salutation of the saints at Rome to those of Philippi, mentions particularly those of "Caesar's household." From this it would seem that some of the family of the emperor had been made acquainted with the Christian religion, and had been converted. In what way the knowledge of the true cause of Paul's imprisonment had been circulated in the "palace," is not now known. There was, however, close intimacy between the military officers and the government, and it was probably by means of some of the soldiers or officers who had the special charge of Paul, that this had been communicated. To Paul, in his bonds, it must have been a subject of great rejoicing, that the government became thus apprised of the true character of the opposition which had been excited against him; and it must have done much to reconcile him to the sorrows and privations of imprisonment, that he was thus the means of introducing religion to the very palace of the emperor.
And in all other places - Margin, to all others. The Greek will bear either construction. But if, as has been supposed, the reference in the word praetorium is to the palace, then this should be rendered "all other places." It then means, that the knowledge of his innocence, and the consequences of that knowledge in its happy influence in spreading religion, were not confined to the palace, but were extended to other places. The subject was generally understood, so that it might be said that correct views of the matter pervaded the city, and the fact of his imprisonment was accomplishing extensively the most happy effects on the public mind.

My bonds - are manifest in all the palace - In consequence of the public defense which he was obliged to make, his doctrines must be fully known in the court, and throughout the whole city, as on his trial he would necessarily explain the whole. The praetorium, πραιτωριον, which we here translate palace, signifies the court where causes were heard and judged by the praetor or civil magistrate; it sometimes signifies the general's tent, and at others, the emperor's palace. It is supposed that it is used in this latter sense here. There were, no doubt, persons belonging to the emperor's household who would bring the news of so remarkable a case to the palace; for we find that there were Christians even in Caesar's household; Philippians 4:22.

So that my bonds (h) in Christ are manifest in all the (i) palace, and in all other [places];
(h) For Christ's sake.
(i) In the emperor's court.

So that my bonds in Christ,.... What he had more darkly hinted before, he more clearly expresses here; the things that happened to him were his bonds; he was now a prisoner at Rome and in chains; though he had the liberty of dwelling alone in his own hired house, and of his friends coming to see him and hear him, yet he was bound with a chain, and under the care and guard of a soldier continually, who held one end of it. These bonds of his were not for debt, which he took care not to run into, but chose rather to work with his own hands, and so ministering to his own and the necessities of others, that he might not eat any man's bread for nought; nor for any capital crime, as murder, or theft, or anything that was worthy of death or of bonds; but his bonds were in Christ, or for Christ's sake, for professing Christ and preaching his Gospel; he was a prisoner in the Lord, or for his sake; see Ephesians 4:1. The use of his sufferings, which is more generally signified in Philippians 1:12, is here and in Philippians 1:14 more particularly related, and the several instances of it given, these his bonds for the sake of Christ, he says,
are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places, or "my bonds are manifest in Christ", as the words may be read; that is, by the means of Christ, he causing them to be taken notice of by men, and some of the first rank: by his bonds being manifest may be meant he himself who was bound; who by his bonds became known to persons, to whom in all probability he would otherwise have remained unknown; as to Felix, and Festus, and King Agrippa, and others in Caesar's court: or the Gospel for the sake of which he was bound; this was made manifest and became known, not barely notionally, but savingly and experimentally; and even Christ himself the substance of it, for whom he was laid in bonds, by this means came to be known, "in all the palace". The Arabic version reads it, "in the palace of the emperor". The word "praetorium", here used, signifies sometimes the judgment hall, or court of judicature belonging to the Roman governors, as Herod and Pilate; see Acts 23:35; and if it designs any such court at Rome, then the sense is, that through the apostle's being sent a prisoner to Rome, and his cause heard in the praetorium, or judgment hall, he and the cause of his bonds came to be known by the judges in that court; and which might be the means of the conversion of some of them: sometimes it signifies the general's pavilion in the camp, and sometimes the emperor's palace at Rome, he being the chief "praetor", or magistrate; and so here it seems to design Nero's house or court, where the Gospel, through the apostle's bonds, had made its way to the conversion of many there; see Philippians 4:22; and in all other places; or as the Arabic version renders it, "with all other men"; for it may be understood either of men or places; and that Christ and his Gospel came to be known through the apostle's sufferings, not only in the court of judicature where his cause was tried, or in Caesar's palace, and to many of his courtiers, but in other places in Rome, and parts of the empire, and to many persons there, both Jews and Gentiles; so that what was intended for the disadvantage of the Gospel, proved for the service of it.

my bonds in Christ--rather as Greek, "So that my bonds have become manifest in Christ," that is, known, as endured in Christ's cause.
palace--literally, "PrÃ&brvbr;torium," that is, the barrack of the PrÃ&brvbr;torian guards attached to the palace of Nero, on the Palatine hill at Rome; not the general PrÃ&brvbr;torian camp outside of the city; for this was not connected with "CÃ&brvbr;sar's household," which Philippians 4:22 shows the PrÃ&brvbr;torium here meant was. The emperor was "PrÃ&brvbr;tor," or Commander-in-Chief; naturally then the barrack of his bodyguard was called the PrÃ&brvbr;torium. Paul seems now not to have been at large in his own hired house, though chained to a soldier, as in Acts 28:16, Acts 28:20, Acts 28:30-31, but in strict custody in the PrÃ&brvbr;torium; a change which probably took place on Tigellinus becoming PrÃ&brvbr;torian Prefect. See Introduction.
in all other places--so CHRYSOSTOM. Or else, "TO all the rest," that is, "manifest to all the other" PrÃ&brvbr;torian soldiers stationed elsewhere, through the instrumentality of the PrÃ&brvbr;torian household guards who might for the time be attached to the emperor's palace, and who relieved one another in succession. Paul had been now upwards of two years a prisoner, so that there was time for his cause and the Gospel having become widely known at Rome.

My bonds in Christ - Endured for his sake. Have been made manifest - Much taken notice of. In the whole palace - Of the Roman emperor.