What does Philippians 1:12 mean?

Verse 12 changes Paul's focus. He began by encouraging the Philippians in what they had done, and would continue to do. Here, he begins to encourage them in what he was experiencing. Paul previously mentioned his time in prison (Philippians 1:7). He was often persecuted, sometimes severely (2 Corinthians 11:23–27), and suffered many other forms of hardship for the sake of his message. Paul puts a uniquely Christian spin—a truthful one—on these experiences. These things have all served to advance the spread of the gospel. For this, Paul is actually rejoicing. While the world would have seen Paul's situation only in negative terms, Paul saw it as a positive way to share the gospel with new people.

Further, Paul calls the spread of the gospel the "advance" of the gospel. The gospel did not merely spread like other information; it "advanced." It was a message of power that charged forward into unknown territories to change hearts and lives. The message that changed this man from Saul to Paul was changing people in the capital of the empire. Paul considered his suffering well worth the transformation it provided for those around him in Rome.