Once again a quick review of what we have learned from our examination of Phil 1:20-23

“According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by LIFE or by DEATH. To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which (life or death) I shall choose, I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

Some like our friend here question whether the Apostle’s language here, specifically his statement in Verse 23, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ” implies that the Apostle understood that when he died he would not sleep but go immediately to be with the Lord, that this proves that the dead are conscious.

However a close analysis of his language both preceding and following this verse, and of parallel passages, does not favor such a thought. In these verses the Apostle tells us that He does not know whether to prefer life with its sufferings and its blessings of service for the brethren or death with its release from labor and sufferings. He confesses himself as hard pressed as to which of these two things he should choose.

As between these two things, therefore, it was a matter of indifference to him which he should choose, since both had such accompaniments that he could not decide which of the two would be the more desirable. But in Verse 23 he mentions two other things that are far better than life or death; therefore these two things must be a [third] and a [fourth] thing. These third and fourth things are stated in the Authorized Version as 1) departing and 2) being with Christ.

The Greek word [analysai] is in this verse translated “to depart“; but in the only other passage of the New Testament in which it occurs it is rendered “return.” “Be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord when He shall [return] from the wedding.” (Luke 12:36)

The word [analysai] means both to depart and to return in classical Greek.

Which of these renderings fits in Phil 1:23?

It will be noticed that in the Luke passage the word is used in a parable illustrative of our Lord’s Second Advent. Our Lord taught us that our reward (Matt. 16:27; Rev. 11:18), in the resurrection, and NOT before (Luke 14:14); that the spirit is to be saved in the Day of the Lord, and NOT before (1 Cor. 5:5), and that it will be only after His return that we will see and be with Him. (1 John 3:2; John 14:2, 3; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.)

Thus the Apostle believed that he would for the first time see and be with the Lord Jesus AFTER the latter’s Second Advent.

These considerations prove that the word [analysai] should in Phil. 1:23 be translated, NOT as [depart], but rather as [return].

Hence instead of being rendered, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ”, the translation should read, “My desire is for 1) the [returning] of, and 2) the being with Christ.”

These two things are the things which are by far better than the other two things – life or death; and we immediately recognize them to be things different from life or death. This is that blessed hope that God has given us to cherish. (Phil 3:20; 1 Thess 1:10; Tit 2:13; Rev 22:20) And this was the hope that the Apostle expressed in Phil. 1:23, which is to be realized AT Christ’s return, through the resurrection.

These considerations prove that the clause, “My desire is,” etc., should be enclosed within a parenthesis. They also prove that the passage does not treat of the consciousness of the dead, and therefore should not be quoted to prove that doctrine.”

We will move on to consider our friend’s second proof text in our next post.