The important thing is that in every way . . . Christ is preached. (Phil. 1:18)
Expanded Passage: Philippians 1:12-18
The Bible comes in many forms, and most American households have several copies thanks to Johannes Gutenberg. He revolutionized the world through mass printing and radically enhanced access to Scripture for daily use with his first printed book, the “Gutenberg Bible.” His motives were mixed, as certainly the Bible was the prominent sacred text of Germany and much of Europe. But it was also a major business venture.
While we are not sure what transpired between him and his partner (and funder) in the mid-1450s, we know that Gutenberg went bankrupt due to the massive loans needed to pull off the making of the press. While millions of Christians grew to love his invention and its value both to themselves and missions, others were critical and insisted on using only the handwritten manuscripts. Once again, like in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, some argued over the motives while others for the power of the message.
Today we can access the Bible and resources in many forms, including digital versions like YouVersion; many of us might question the publisher’s motives. It’s easy to read passages like Philippians 1:18 and forget that this admonition also applies to us when we read the Word or hear Christ preached, even from apparent rascals or suspect preachers. Perhaps we would do well to consider: When was the last time you were preoccupied with the messenger and missed the power of Christ’s message?
Focus on the message, not the messenger.
Jerry Pattengale is a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University and the codirector and cofounder of the Lumen Research Institute. He has authored and edited over forty books including Faith Made Real (WPH).
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.