"Commentary on Philippians 1:21". Titus 1:11. What did Paul mean when he wrote 'to live is Christ' (Philippians 1:21)?
What did Paul mean when he wrote 'to live is Christ' (Philippians 1:21)? (Amplified Bible - Lockman)Lightfoot: Others may make choice between life and death.I gladly accept either alternative. "Commentary on Philippians 1:21". "Paul"s only reason for existence is that he may spend his life in that glad service; and death for that cause will be the crowning service. "Commentary on Philippians 1:21". Paul declares that the focus, the reason, for everything he does while alive on earth is to glorify Jesus and make Him known. Do not be discouraged if your conscience answers, III. Do you identify as a Christian or claim to be one?
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. God makes this clear in Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV): For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. But now I do. Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”. Like Paul, we are meant to build an intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus and to live out that life outwardly (in words, thoughts, actions, attitude, service – because of our love and appreciation for Jesus), relying on the example of Paul and other believers who have gone before us. Let me layer this out. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Libanius, Orat., xxvi., p. 595 A (quoted by Wetstein): πάντως οἷς βαρὺ τὸ ζῇν κέρδος ὁ θάνατος. He wanted the beauty and magnificence of His wonderful Saviour to eclipse all else. However, to apply this verse in your life does require great faith and commitment, that can only come from a relationship with Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Second, he focuses on the expansion of the gospel (Philippians 1:12–18). This passage demands the Christian is fully conscious after death, that the Christian gets more of Christ after death, than before (2 Corinthians 5:8). He had no doubts at all about the nature of eternal life, and his faith was undergirded by a multitude of supernatural demonstrations of God’s kingdom and his power, not the least of which was the visitation of Jesus himself on Paul’s Damascus road conversion. 1:21-23). For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. For what is life? [⇑ See verse text ⇑] This verse offers some of the most memorable words in the entire Bible: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." He wanted to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ in every area of life. To Paul, living meant loving and serving Jesus Christ. If you want to live a long life on Earth you do not do the things Paul did. The Apostle Paul wrote these lines during his imprisonment in Rome, probably some time between 61 and 63 C.E. #3 “…and to die is gain.” As much as we live the “abundant life”(Jn 10:10) of Christ in this world, it simply pales in comparison to what is to come for the believer upon death, and later at the resurrection of the dead and the judgment. One humbly and gratefully submits to Christ on every issue (Matthew 28:18). But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. But for Paul, all of it is personal, as it should be for all God’s people. So, what is God trying to teach us Christians today when inspires Paul to declare “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” in Philippians 1:21? 1-2) and Paul’s prayer for the Philippians (vv. Judging or Discernment - Exposing False Christians, Cornerstone Episode 28 – God Is In Control. ], Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. I pray that you have a better understanding of this verse now.
Even though he was in prison and was often persecuted for being a Christian, Paul seriously enjoyed living.
When Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he was in prison. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.".
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Paul"s opponents may have been self-centered (), but he is Christ-centered.
. "Commentary on Philippians 1:21". Even a Roman gallows could not prevent him from entering into heaven, and so he was able to conclude, "and to die is gain. #1 “For to me,” Paul knows theology. “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor 15:19). Some we speak of for me. If you recall, Paul was stoned by the Jewish religious people at Lystra, and in Corinthians, he said a man, himself, was caught up into the Third Heaven, and saw things that he was not allowed to tell and that are inexpressible. You missed the mark on this.
No, that’s not what the Scriptures are talking about here. John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, II.