For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
What does Philippians 1:21 mean?
Death is a great loss to a carnal, worldly man, for he loses all his earthly comforts and all his hopes; but to a true believer it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Philippians 1:18-22 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Philippians 1:21
He is the supreme End of my life, and I value it only as being devoted to his honor - Doddridge. His aim was not honor, learning, gold, pleasure; it was, to glorify the Lord Jesus. This was the single purpose of his soul - a purpose to which he devoted himself with as much singleness and ardor as ever did a miser to the pursuit of gold, or a devotee of pleasure to amusement, or an aspirant for fame to ambition.
Context in Philippians 1
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Philippians 1 belongs to the opening movement of the book, especially the section often described as thanksgiving and prayer. Philippians is a joyful prison letter centered on Christ’s humility, resurrection-minded hope, and steadfast partnership in the gospel. Read this chapter with the wider themes of joy, humility, and partnership in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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