CHAPTER 3

Philippians 1:19-26

The section that now opens before us is one that has provoked much thought and has been the battle ground of

conflicting interpretations. The centre of the argument being the apostle's words `to depart, and to be with Christ'

(Phil. 1:23).

`To be a saint in paradise dwelling in the light of Christ's countenance, though not the perfect state, because the

body was not redeemed and raised up in the likeness of Christ's glorious body, was indeed "far better"' (Sadler).

These words, quoted from a popular commentary, give a fair presentation of the view held by orthodox

`Paul believed that the soul of the Christian would be immediately with the Saviour at death. It was evidently his

expectation that he would at once pass to His presence, and not that he would remain in an intermediate state to

some far distant period. The soul does not sleep at death. Paul expected to be with Christ, and to be conscious

of the fact - to see Him, and to partake of His glory' (Barnes).

Here again is a very popular view, held by many who in other doctrines may be far apart.

In the scholarly exposition of Bishop Lightfoot, the popular view is tempered. He says :

`The faithful immediately after death are similarly represented as in the presence and keeping of the Lord (2 Cor.

5:6,8) ... on the other hand their state after death is elsewhere described as a sleep from which they will arise

(1 Cor. 15:51,52; 1 Thess. 4:14,16). The one mode of representation must qualify the other'.

Bishop Lightfoot does not explain how the one mode can qualify the other. How a person can at the same time

be represented as `in the presence' of the Lord `immediately after death' and at the same time be `asleep' from which

there will be no awakening until the resurrection, is not explained and is possibly unexplainable. It is noteworthy,

nevertheless, that the problem is honestly recorded, even if it be not solved.

Another interpretation has been widely accepted by many who hold scriptural views concerning the state of the

dead. This is expressed in the interpretation given by some writers (Hudson, Roberts, Ellis and Read) `having a

desire for the RETURNING and being with Christ', supposing it to refer to Christ's second coming.

Between these two extreme views, of course, there is a variety of interpretations that shade off from pure

annihilation to the doctrine of `sudden death - sudden glory'.

It would serve no good purpose for us to fill our pages with further quotations; we are Bereans, in the true sense

of the word, and we must `search and see' whether these things are so, but not only so, we must above all things

search the Scriptures at first hand in order to discover truth at the fountain head.

In the first place, let us exhibit the structure of the section before us.

A 21 TO ME (emoi) to live. Christ.

Live in flesh. Fruit.

b Paul's choice. Not made known.

THE

c Paul's desire. With Christ.

STRAIT.

Abide in flesh. Needful.

b Paul's confidence. I know.

THE

c Paul's continuance. With you all.

CONFIDENCE.

A 26 BY ME (emoi) my presence. Glorying in Christ.