Philippians 1:21

PAUL'S GREAT SOLILOQUY

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if to live in the flesh, - if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not. But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better: yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark delivered a soliloquy in which he viewed both the present life and the after-death state as equally undesirable and terrifying. When considering the evils of life, he could incline toward death, except for the soul-shattering thought that evil dreams would torture him. Thus, Hamlet stands as the typical unregenerated man, oppressed by life, but afraid to die. Here, the matchless Paul rises above such a dilemma, viewing both life and death as the means of magnifying the Lord Jesus.

To live is Christ ... Salvation through Christ is, briefly stated, a sinner's denial of himself, renunciation of himself, and complete submission to the will of Christ, being "baptized into" Christ, thus being saved, not as himself, but as Christ. That fact surfaces in Paul's brief clause here.

To die is gain ... "Anyone who can truthfully say, `For me to live is Christ' can also say, `To die is gain'."[41] Therefore, this Pauline statement is more than a mere complaint of his being imprisoned. "To depart and be with Christ is very far better!" (Philippians 1:23). No Christian should dread death. Whatever Paul could have meant by such words as these, the confidence is justified that the after-death state of Christians will be "very far better" than any earthly life, however blessed.

Very far better ... "This is the highest superlative which it is possible to form in any language ... from which we may infer that Paul knew of no middle state of insensibility between death and the resurrection."[42] It can hardly be imagined that Paul would have considered such a middle state of total insensibility to be preferable to remaining in the world to proclaim the gospel of Christ. Despite this, however, there seems to be indicated some kind of intermediate state in such passages as 1Thess. 4:14,16,1 Corinthians 15:51,52. We must confess, as did Dummelow, that "Our best notions of the other world are dim and confused."[43]

To depart and be with Christ ... Of course, this is a mere euphemism for death; but, as Martin noted, "It is a military term for striking camp, and a nautical expression for releasing a vessel from its mooring."[44] Barry stated that this expression is found in only one other New Testament passage, Luke 12:88, "When he shall return (break up) from the wedding. The body is looked upon as a mere tabernacle. Each day is a march nearer home, and death is the last striking of the tent on arrival."[45]

[41] F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972), p. 109.

[42] James Macknight, op. cit., p. 413.

[43] J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 972.

[44] R. P. Martin, op. cit., p. 78.

[45] Alfred Barry, Ellicott's Commentary on the Holy Bible, Vol. III, Philippians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1959), p. 71.