The people who preach Christ from envy and rivalry are driven by selfish ambition. Their main aim is apparently not to get the proclamation to as many people as possible. They mainly want to take advantage of it themselves. They have impure intentions. It is not just their selfish ambition; they also seek to aggravate Paul’s captivity.
17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.