21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
Vs. 21 - “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”
One of Paul’s most famous sentences. See also: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Gal. 2:20
Our whole Christian life is to be centered in Jesus - not in church, not in worship in church, not in baptism or communion, Sunday school or growth groups. We live to serve Christ the Lord.
Even so, Paul knows that when he dies, he will be with the Lord in heaven! That is the “gain’ of which he writes! This is the dilemma for Paul - while living he serves Christ as he has been called to do; and if dead, he lives with Christ, face-to-face in joy and continuous light. He is joyful serving Christ. He looks forward with joy to being with Christ!
“this will mean fruitful labor for me” - Paul sees his life mapped out. As long as he is alive, he has work to do. He is a missionary, an evangelist, a preacher and teacher for Christ. And he is in “a target rich environment”! He knows that as long as he shares the Good News people will come to a saving knowledge of Christ - his labor will be fruitful! See: “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14) As long as Paul is alive, they will hear the message. He will be working. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58). Serving the Lord is not ‘busy-work’ or spinning wheels - people will be saved.
“I do not know which to choose.” - I think this could be read, “I’m not sure which I would choose.” Paul really does not get to make that kind of choice. It’s not similar to saying, “What shall I have for lunch - hamburger or tacos?” He knows his life is in God’s hands. He doesn’t know for which he should pray - a continued ministry in Rome, or going home to heaven with Jesus. One is obediently fulfilling his calling. The other is glorious!
Every once in a while someone asks how you are doing, and the response may be, “Alive and kicking - better than the alternative!” I know it’s a cute light-hearted answer. It’s better to be alive than dead. (Well, duh!) This will sound pedantic, but the above answer might not be a good Christian response - since it only compares living or being dead. How about a slightly different answer: “Alive and kicking, and waiting for Christ’s return!”
Vs. 23-24 - “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”“hard-pressed from both directions” - He is pulled mentally and emotionally - remaining to do his calling, or going home to heaven to be with his Savior! What to pray for? Torn between the two things he is passionate to do! Personally, it will be much better for each believer to be face-to-face with Christ in heaven than ANYTHING we may be doing on earth. However, Paul felt a tremendous responsibility to those people in the churches he started. I don’t think Paul was possessive about them, but has extreme concern for their spiritual welfare.
This letter is not a typical letter from Paul - typical being “for teaching, for reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.” (2 Tim 3:16) Almost every letter is sent to correct some problem: legalism (Colossians), Christ plus Judaism (Galatians), a young church leader (1 Timothy), sinful behavior (1 Corinthians), etc.
In this letter Paul encourages them to live their faith in joy. This joy comes from their secure knowledge that Christ lives in them.
Vs. 25 - “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,”“Convinced of this” - It is more important to stay and mentor these believers. He believes it is necessary for him. (See verse 24 above.) You may think Paul is being arrogant, thinking he is the only person that can steer them in the right direction. On the other hand, he has watched false teachers spread a ‘contrary gospel’ in other churches. (See: Gal. 1:8,9) He knows, is convinced, that with proper guidance, they will grow in their faith.
“continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith” - Progress - we are not to sit and do nothing after being saved from sin by the Lord’s sacrifice for us. Stasis is not the goal for Christians. Yes, we are saved from the penalty for our sin and heaven is in our future. Christ’s command is to make disciples, not make believers. (Matt. 28:18-20) We are to share the gospel so the Holy Spirit and Jesus can call them to belief and salvation. As people received the gospel and believed they began immediately to be taught by the apostles. (Acts. 2:41-43)
We are to be changed, from the normal self to a new self (Rom. 12:1,2; 1 Pet. 1:4-16). There is work for us to do. (Eph. 2:9) We are to live in a manner worthy of the Lord. (Col. 1:9-11)
“Manner worthy” - does that not imply the way you lived before is not acceptable? How do we determine what is an acceptable way of living? Trial and error? Learn by doing? There will always be a certain amount of ‘on-the-job-training’ as we go through life, but Jesus has given us the Bible, teachers and exhorters to disciple us. Our faith is not as is Orthodox Judaism, which uses the Torah (Law and Prophets) plus the Talmud (Encyclopedia Britannica sized document explaining and interpreting the Law). The Christian faith has fewer laws, and more principles and guidelines. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved” is the one main Law of the new covenant. (See: John 20:31; Rom. 3;22; Gal. 2:!6, 3:22; 1 Tim. 1:!6; 1 John 3:23). We must learn how to love one another as He loved us. We must learn how to disciple, how to forgive, how to be hospitable, to operate a church.
“joy in the faith” - Considering what you have received in return for your faith in Christ - be joyful!
Vs. 26 - “so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.”“your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus” - In this case, the NASB, fractures the English. It is much clearer to say, “you will really be able to rejoice when I return to you, through the Lord Jesus Christ.” Sometimes I can get so caught up in parsing a sentence or a couple of words the basic meaning is clouded.
Verses 23-26, simplified say: “I would rather stay on earth to teach you so you will grow in Christ. Your growing will allow you to really rejoice when I see you again.”
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