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Philippians 1:23

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

KJV

συνέχομαι δὲ ἐκ τῶν δύο, τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων εἰς τὸ ἀναλῦσαι καὶ σὺν Χριστῷ εἶναι, πολλῷ γὰρ μᾶλλον κρεῖσσον·

Greek NT

Coarctor autem e duobus : desiderium habens dissolvi, et esse cum Christo, multo magis melius :

Vulgate

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

ASV

But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

17 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

Χριστός
christos
noun · 530×
γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
δύο
duo
adjective · 132×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
εἰς
eis
preposition · 1769×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
κρεῖσσον
kreisson
adjective · 6×
μᾶλλον
mallon
adverb · 81×
πολύς
polus
adjective · 412×
συνέχω
sunecho
verb · 12×
σύν
sun
preposition · 129×
ἀναλύω
analuo
verb · 2×
ἐκ
ek
preposition · 915×
ἐπιθυμία
epithumia
noun · 38×
ἔχω
echo
verb · 707×
o
article · 19778×

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

trivial
SBLGNT: γὰρ | WH/Treg/NIV: γὰρ
  • γὰρSBLGNT
  • γὰρWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Historic Christian voices

22 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§1005To rise with Christ, we must die with Christ: we must "be away from the body and at home with the Lord."562 In that "departure" which is death the soul is separated from the body.563 It will be reunited with the body on the day of resurrection of the dead.564 Death
§1011In death, God calls man to himself. Therefore the Christian can experience a desire for death like St. Paul's: "My desire is to depart and be with Christ. "577 He can transform his own death into an act of obedience and love towards the Father, after the example of Christ:578 My earthly desire has been crucified; . . . there is living water in me, water that murmurs and says wi…
§1021Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ.590 The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. the parable of the …
…and 1 more from this source.
Homilies on Matthew · 3 passages
2. For with what judgment ye judge, says He, you shall be judged. Matthew 7:2 That is, it is not the other, says Christ, that you condemn, but yourself, and you are making the judgment-seat dreadful to yourself, and the account strict. As then in the forgiveness of our sins the beginnings are from us, so also in this judgment, it is by ourselves that the measures of our condemn…
2. Now when He is departed from the sea, there follows another miracle yet more awful. For men possessed with devils, like wicked runaways at sight of their master, said, What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time? Matthew 8:29 For, because the multitudes called Him man, the devils came proclaiming His Godhead, and they …
2. And ye indeed say that you know even His substance, but that the Son not even the day, the Son, who is always in the bosom of the Father; and yet His substance is much greater than the days, even infinitely greater. How then, while assigning to yourselves the greater things, do you not allow even the less to the Son, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.…
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210216.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
City of God · 2 passages
Chapter 7.—That the Words Love and Regard (Amor and Dilectio) are in Scripture Used Indifferently of Good and Evil Affection. He who resolves to love God, and to love his neighbor as himself, not according to man but according to God, is on account of this love said to be of a good will; and this is in Scripture more commonly called charity, but it is also, even in the same boo…
Chapter 9.—Of the Perturbations of the Soul Which Appear as Right Affections in the Life of the Righteous. But so far as regards this question of mental perturbations, we have answered these philosophers in the ninth book687687 C. 4, 5. of this work, showing that it is rather a verbal than a real dispute, and that they seek contention rather than truth. Among ourselves, accordi…
The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of th…
But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes. Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars have been persecuted and put to death. Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerou…
1. How Christians are the Spiritual Israel. That people which was called of old the people of God was divided into twelve tribes, and over and above the other tribes it had the levitical order, which itself again carried on the service of God in various priestly and levitical suborders. In the same manner, it appears to me that the whole people of Christ, when we regard it in t…
When Abba Sisoes was at the point of death, the Fathers sitting beside him saw that his face shone like the sun. He said to them, "Look, Abba Antony is coming." A little later he said, "Look, the choir of prophets is coming." Again his countenance became brighter and he said, "Look, the choir of apostles is coming." His countenance became brighter still and he seemed to be spea…
The true divine Scriptures know naught of purgatory after this life. The fate of the dead is known to God alone. Indulgences are granted by avarice and do not help the dead. The character which the priest claims as his own when he confers it is an impossibility, for all Christians have this character from Christ.
Heidelberg Catechism · 2 passages
Q. Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die? A. Our death does not pay for our sins. Rather, it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into eternal life.
Q. How does the resurrection of the body comfort you? A. Not only my soul will be taken immediately after this life to Christ its head, but even my very flesh, raised by the power of Christ, will be reunited with my soul and made like Christ's glorious body.
The bodies of the faithful, as being the temples of the Holy Spirit, which we truly believe shall rise again at the last day, Scripture commands us to commit honorably to the earth, without superstition, and to make honorable mention of those who died in the Lord. We do not approve of those who show an excessive care for the dead, who are over-anxious for their condition, and w…
We believe the souls of the dead are either in a state of blessedness or of condemnation, according to what each hath wrought; for we confess that the souls of the righteous are in light and rest, with a foretaste of eternal happiness, while the souls of the wicked are in a state of punishment and suffering. But neither are the righteous in full possession of the reward promise…

Cross-references

  • 1Chr 21:13 — And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
  • 1Thess 4:17 — Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
  • 1Thess 4:17 — Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
  • 2Cor 5:2 — For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
  • 2Cor 5:8 — We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
  • 2Tim 4:6 — For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
  • 2Tim 4:6 — For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
  • Acts 7:59 — And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
  • Acts 18:5 — And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
  • Col 3:2 — Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
  • Eccl 3:21 — Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
  • Isa 57:2 — He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
  • Job 19:26 — And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
  • John 11:25 — Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
  • John 12:26 — If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
  • John 12:26 — If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
  • John 14:3 — And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
  • John 14:3 — And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
  • John 17:24 — Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
  • John 17:24 — Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
  • Josh 22:3 — Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
  • Luke 2:29 — Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
  • Luke 2:29 — Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
  • Luke 12:37 — Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
  • Luke 12:50 — But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
  • Luke 23:43 — And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
  • Luke 23:43 — And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
  • Mark 5:18 — And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
  • Mark 9:5 — And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
  • Matt 25:21 — His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
  • Phil 1:20 — According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or
  • Phil 1:21 — For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
  • Ps 16:10 — For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
  • Ps 17:15 — As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
  • Ps 23:6 — Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
  • Ps 49:15 — But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
  • Ps 63:3 — Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
  • Ps 119:174 — I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
  • Rev 6:9 — And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
  • Rev 7:14 — And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.