John Chrysostom

"Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife, and some also of good will." And what this means is worth enquiry. Since Paul was under restraint, many of the unbelievers, willing to stir up more vehemently the persecution from the Emperor, themselves also preached Christ, in order that the Emperor's wrath might be increased at the spread of the Gospel, and all his anger might fall on the head of Paul. From my bonds then two lines of action have sprung. …

Homily on Philippians 2 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

After Paul was seized, many from among the unbelievers began to preach Christ, wishing by this to arouse Nero to greater wrath, so that he would put Paul to death as quickly as possible, since through him the preaching was spreading everywhere. This is what the words "out of envy and strife" mean. Or else, they began to preach Christ because they wanted to receive honor for themselves and take something away from my glory. But others, he says, preached Christ "with good will," that is, without hypocrisy and truly.

Commentary on Philippians ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Yet there is some diversity among these, because some spoke properly and some not. Of those who spoke properly, some did so out of general love, and others out of love for the Apostle; of those who spoke improperly, some acted out of general malice, and some out of personal hatred of the Apostle. …

Commentary on Philippians ↗