philippians-1:22-nkjv,nlt

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philippians 1:21-26

We have here an account of the life and death of blessed Paul: his life was Christ, and his death was gain. Observe, 1. It is the undoubted character of every good Christian that to him to live is Christ. The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life, the grace of Christ the principle of our life, and the word of Christ the rule of it. The Christian life is derived from Christ, and directed to him. He is the principle, rule, and end of it. 2. All those to whom to live is Christ to them... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 1:21-26

1:21-26 For living is Christ to me, and death is gain. And yet--what if the continuance of my life in the flesh would produce more fruit for me? What I am to choose is not mine to declare. I am caught between two desires, for I have my desire to strike camp and to be with Christ, which is far better; but for your sake it is more essential for me to remain in this life. And I am confidently certain of this, that I will remain, and I will be with you and beside you all to help you along the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 1:22

But if I live in the flesh ,.... To be in the flesh sometimes signifies to be in a state of nature and unregeneracy, and to live in and after the flesh, to live according to the dictates of corrupt nature; but here it signifies living in the body, or the life which is in the flesh, as the Syriac version renders the phrase here, and as the apostle expresses it in Galatians 2:20 , and the sense is, if I should live any longer in the body, and be continued for some time in this world: this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 1:22

But if I live in the flesh - Should I be spared longer, I shall labor for Christ as I have done; and this is the fruit of my labor, that Christ shall be magnified by my longer life, Phlippians 1:20 . Yet what I shall choose I wot not - Had I the two conditions left to my own choice, whether to die now and go to glory, or whether to live longer in persecutions and affliction, (glorifying Christ by spreading the Gospel), I could not tell which to prefer. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 1:22

Verse 22 22But if to live in the flesh. As persons in despair feel in perplexity as to whether they ought to prolong their life any farther in miseries, or to terminate their troubles by death, so Paul, on the other hand, says that he is, in a spirit of contentment, so well prepared for death or for life, because the condition of believers, both in the one case and in the other, is blessed, so that he is at a loss which to choose. If it is worth while; that is, “If I have reason to believe that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:12-30

Thoughts suggested by his captivity. I. PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL IN ROME . 1 . Generally. "Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel." It might have been expected that his imprisonment, which is principally referred to, would have fallen out to the hindrance of the gospel. But Paul would have his Philippian brethren know, for their comfort and confirmation, that, though to some extent... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:21-26

The great alternative, life or death. I. ST . PAUL IS PREPARED FOR EITHER ; "for," he says, "to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." 1 . Christ was his life . Christ was magnified, not in his body only, in his labors and suffering, but in his spirit. The presence of Christ filled his whole conscious existence; communion with Christ was to him the very breath of life. Life was worth having only so far as the life of Christ was realized in the apostle's life. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:21-26

Life here and hereafter. The brave apostle, awaiting the slow issue of his case at Rome, has been speaking of the good effect of his imprisonment upon the promulgation of the gospel. He can see the good beneath the apparent evil. And now he speaks of the life he lives on earth and of the other life beyond the shadow of death. Let us notice the lessons as they are set before us here. I. PAUL 'S SELF - ABANDONMENT TO CHRIST . ( Philippians 1:21 .) He surrendered himself in a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:22

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not ; or perhaps, as Meyer, "I make not known." St. Paul wavers between his own personal longing for rest in Paradise with Christ, and the thought that the continuance of his life on earth might conduce to the spreading of the gospel. The grammar of the Greek sentence aptly represents the apostle's hesitation. The construction is almost hopelessly confused. Perhaps the interpretation of the R.V. is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:22-24

The apostle's dilemma. The last sentence touched his more personal life; but now he think's of his official relation to others, with its large promise of blessing to the world. This thought creates his dilemma. He does not know whether to choose life or death. Let us mark the two sides of the dilemma. I. THE CHOICE OF LIFE . This had no relation to himself. It had exclusive relation to others. 1 . His life would be more fruitful in labors for others. "But if I live in the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philippians 1:21-26

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 1:21-26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 1:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 1:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 1:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:12-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:21-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:21-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:22-24

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