Philippians 1:21-23

1:21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 1:22 Now if I am to go on living in the body, 1  this will mean productive work 2  for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer: 3  1:23 I feel torn between the two, 4  because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,

1 tn Grk “flesh.”

2 tn Grk “fruit of work”; the genitive ἔργου (ergou) is taken as an attributed genitive in which the head noun, καρπός (karpos), functions attributively (cf. ExSyn 89-91).

3 tn Grk “what I shall prefer.” The Greek verb αἱρέω (Jairew) could also mean “choose,” but in this context such a translation is problematic for it suggests that Paul could perhaps choose suicide (cf. L&N 30.86).

sn I don’t know what I prefer. Paul is here struggling with what would be most beneficial for both him and the church. He resolves this issue in vv. 24-25.

4 tn Grk “I am hard-pressed between the two.” Cf. L&N 30.18.