Albert Barnes Commentary Philippians 1:17

"but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds." — Philippians 1:17 (ASV)

But the other of love. From pure motives, and from sincere affection to me.

Knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. They believe that I am an ambassador from God. They regard me as unjustly imprisoned, and while I am disabled, they are willing to aid me in the great cause to which my life is devoted.

To alleviate his sorrows and to carry forward the great cause which he was particularly appointed to defend, they engaged in the work he could not now do, and went out to vindicate the gospel and make its claims better known.

Coverdale translates this as, "for they know that I lie here for the defence of the gospel." So Piscator, Michaelis, and Endius also render it, supposing that the meaning is that he lay in prison for the defence of the gospel, or as a consequence of his efforts to defend it. But this is not in accordance with the usual meaning of the Greek word, keimai.

It means to lie, and in the perfect passive, to be laid, set, or placed. If the apostle had referred to his being in prison, he would have added that fact to the statement made. The sense is that he was appointed to be a defender of the gospel, and that they, being well convinced of this, went out to promulgate and defend the truth. That fact was one of Paul's chief consolations while he was thus in confinement.

The meaning is thus "set" or "placed."