The Greek word for pretense
(prophasis) implies the presence of a pretentious attitude; the term is also used of the sailors in Acts 27:30 who made as if they dropped anchor, but who secretly wanted to leave the ship. In the same way the harmoniousness between some of the preachers and Paul was actually hollow: in their hearts they lacked acceptance and instead harboured a reproachful attitude. In others, what they knew and felt internally corresponded with their outward harmonious relationship with Paul concerning the preaching of Christ. This indicates that the disposition preachers harbour toward others when preaching the gospel is not unimportant. When jealousy of and a sense of conflictedness toward colleagues dominate a preacher, he will have to account for his wrong motives before God.1
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.