According to my earnest expectation and my hope,
that in nothing I shall be ashamed,
but that with all boldness, as always,
so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,
whether it be by life, or by death.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour:
yet what I shall choose I wot not.
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.
And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
(Philippians 1:20-26)
Hello Marks,
Paul knew that Christ would be magnified in his body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to Paul to live was Christ, and to die was gain also - for Christ. Living or dying was not the issue, for there was a further option which far outweighed both as far as Paul was concerned: He desired to depart and be with Christ. However that required resurrection out from among the dead: for only then would mortality put on immortality, corruption put on in-corruption: or the natural put on what is spiritual (1 Corinthians 15). Yes, only then would resurrection life be possible. Only in resurrection life could Paul be with Christ.
Paul spoke of death as an unclothed state (2 Corinthians 5:1-6), and he did not want to be found, 'naked': he wanted to be clothed upon by resurrection life. While in the body He was absent from the Lord. For immortality must be swallowed of life, and that required the resurrection from the dead.
In Christ Jesus
Chris