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Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, [even] unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
Note 18 at 2Ti 2:9: Paul was anything but an evildoer, yet that's how he was perceived by many. He was in prison and facing execution because he loved God and people enough that he proclaimed the good news of God's free salvation, even in the face of terrible persecution.
One of the hardest aspects of persecution to deal with is the defamation of character that accompanies it. Truly godly people have a love for holiness and purity of character. When they are vilified through persecution, it goes against everything they believe in and desire to be associated with. Therefore, self-loving people cannot endure persecution.
The only way to totally deal with the unjust accusations of persecution is to be dead to self and alive unto God. That was Paul's secret (see notes 13-14 at Ga 2:20). He lost himself in God so that what people said or thought about him was unimportant. All he was out to do was advance the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God was being advanced through his imprisonment; therefore, he was content (Php 4:11).
Note 19 at 2Ti 2:9: All the devil or people can do to us is bind us through circumstances. They cannot stop God's Word. We are the only ones who have that power. If we let our circumstances steal our joy and change our focus, then we stop the power of God's Word from working in and through us. However, if we hold fast to what we believe, even in the midst of persecution, God's Word continues to work.
They bound Paul, but they didn't bind God's Word. It continued to prevail so that many in the caesar's household heard the Word (Php 1:12-13). Through those people whom Paul trained, such as Timothy, the Word continued to spread even to the present day, where millions are obedient to the faith because Paul refused to let them bind God's Word.