Philippians 1:23 BSB

Philippians 1:23

I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:

KJV

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

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Commentary

3 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

For I am in a strait betwixt two - Two things, each of which I desire. I earnestly long to be with Christ; and I desire to remain to be useful to the world. The word rendered “I am in a strait” - συνέχομαι sunechomai - means to be pressed on or constrained, as in a crowd; to feel oneself pressed or pent up so as not to know what to do; and it here means that he was in perplexity and doubt, and did not know what to choose. “The words of the original are very emphatic.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

To depart - Out of bonds, flesh, the world. And to be with Christ - In a nearer and fuller union. It is better to depart; it is far better to be with Christ.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1136: “"Forever With The Lord"” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1873)

THE Apostle was confined in the guardroom of the Praetorian. It is very probable that he had a soldier chained to his right hand and another to his left. And it is very possible that this position suggested to him the expression, "I am in a strait betwixt two." He was literally held by two forces and he was mentally in the same condition—exercised with two strong desires—influenced by two master passions, and he did not know to which he should yield.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

19 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
συνέχομαι	sunechomai	I am pressed	G4912 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
ἐκ	ek	between	G1537 →
τῶν	tōn	the	G3588 →
δύο,	duo	two,	G1417 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
ἐπιθυμίαν	epithumian	desire	G1939 →
ἔχων	echōn	having	G2192 →
εἰς	eis	for [myself]	G1519 →
τὸ	to	<the>	G3588 →
ἀναλῦσαι	analusai	to depart	G360 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
σὺν	sun	with	G4862 →
Χριστῷ	Christō	Christ	G5547 →
εἶναι,	einai	to be,	G1511 →
πολλῷ	pollō	very much	G4183 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
μᾶλλον	mallon	more	G3123 →
κρεῖσσον·	kreisson	better;	G2908 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Luke 23:43
And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
leads to
- Revelation 2:7
  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the…
- Psalms 50:15
  Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
- 1 Timothy 1:15–16
  This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
- Luke 19:10
  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
- Psalms 32:5
  Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Through
John 17:24
Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
leads to
- John 14:3
  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
leads to
- Philippians 1:20–24
  I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or…
Through
Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors,…
leads to
- Revelation 20:6
  Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him…

Featured studies on this passage

On Philippians 1:23

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The Apostle Paul in Prison — Rembrandt van Rijn

On Philippians 1:23

Philippians: the Study Guide

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Eternal Security, and the Five Warnings of Hebrews

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About Philippians

The Arrival at Calvary — obedient unto death — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Philippians: the study guide →Read chapter 1 →The featured study →

Continue: Philippians 1 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Philippians

Where the connections lead

The record, by era

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Philippians