Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 10

Paul Declares for him Life is Christ Part 3

Philippians 1:23-24 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. KJV

Paul continuing to express his intense feeling of anxiety over his current confinement in prison being torn between continuing his work for Christ down here on the earth or excepting and even welcoming his execution by the Romans, says “For I am in a strait betwixt two” (Philippians 1:23). The English phrase “I am in a strait” is translated by one Greek word sunecho meaning literally to be compressed in by a large crowd of people as one would be at a packed concert; figuratively it means to be perplexed, that is, full of difficulty, confusion or bewilderment. In other words, Paul loved these believers in Philippi and had a special bond with them seeing that they had often supplied him with financial support during his other Missionary efforts when his tent making did not always provide for him completely as he declared to them in the close of this very letter with these words, “Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no Church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.” (Philippians 4:15-16), and this deep affection for converted Gentiles as these people in Philippi is why Paul was “in a straight (sunecho)” because he wanted to be free that he would be able to spend more time with them in fellowship of the Word of God and bringing even more lost people in Philippi to Christ. This word sunecho is the exact same word our Lord Jesus Christ used when He said, “But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened (sunecho) till it be accomplished!” (Luke 12:50).

However, Paul longed to be free from the prison of his vile body (Philippians 3:21) and be in the arms of his loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ clothed with a new glorious body just like Christ. The Apostle states that his departure to heaven to be with Christ is “far better”, meaning that for him to finally be forever with our Lord Jesus Christ is way way better for him than to remain down here toiling, laboring, struggling, fighting, etc. in his body of death (Romans 7:24). Paul knew that his death would usher him immediately and instantly into the loving arms of Christ as we wrote in the last study or commentary (2 Corinthians 5:8), therefore, knowing this made it difficult for Paul to not desire it, yet Paul knew that Christ would deliver him from his present imprisonment if He had not finished His work being done through Paul here on earth. Paul had begun to see his ministry winding down and his physical body failing him more and more because of all the beatings and imprisonments and only a few years and he would write these words to Brother Timothy, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

However, it was not time just yet for him to go and be with our Lord Jesus forever, so he says to them, “Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:24). With these words, Paul means that he has not gotten a Revelation from God the Father that his time on earth is up and that his work for Christ is complete yet, therefore, he concludes that it is “more needful” for him to remain in his tent, house, or body yet a little longer for their sakes. The English phrase “more needful” Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word anagkaios which means necessary or absolutely essential. Despite Paul’s desire and longing to be with Christ in heaven, it was not quite time for this to happen because our Heavenly Father had more Scripture to write through this vessel of His and needed him to remain for a little longer for the building up of His Church in the faith as Paul wrote in this manner in an earlier letter to the Ephesian believers with these words, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head --- Christ --- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:11-16).  

My own Personal Note: “Paul now finds himself in great distress over his current state of mind and is expressing his anxiousness to these beloved fellow believers because he greatly trusted them and was confident that they would somehow refresh, revive, and release him from this distress with the right response during this difficult time in his life.”

“Those who know the value of Christ and heaven will readily acknowledge it far better to be in heaven than to be in this world, to be with Christ than to be with any creature; for in this world we are compassed about with sin, born to trouble, born again to it; but, if we come to be with Christ, farewell sin and temptation, farewell sorrow and death, forever.” Matthew Henry

“It appears to be a metaphor taken from the commander of a vessel, in a foreign port, who feels a strong desire, to set sail, and get to his own country and family; but this desire is counterbalanced by a conviction that the general interests of the voyage may be best answered by his longer stay in the port where his vessel now rides; for he is not in dock, he is not aground, but rides at anchor in the port, and may any hour weigh and be gone. Such was the condition of the apostle: he was not at home, but although he was abroad it was on his employer’s business; he wishes to return, and is cleared out and ready to set sail, but he has not received his last orders from his owner, and whatever desire he may feel to be at home he will faithfully wait till his final orders arrive.” Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…