# Philippians 1.23 **Book:** [Philippians](/codex/philippians/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22. But if to live in the flesh,, if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not. > > **23. But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:** > > 24. yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake. 25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith; (Philippians 1:21-25, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22. But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. > > **23. But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.** > > 24. Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake. 25. Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, (Philippians 1:21-25, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. > > **23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:** > > 24. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; (Philippians 1:21-25, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 21. for to me to live [is] Christ, and to die gain. 22. And if to live in the flesh [is] to me a fruit of work, then what shall I choose? I know not; > > **23. for I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart, and to be with Christ, for it is far better,** > > 24. and to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account, 25. and of this being persuaded, I have known that I shall remain and continue with you all, to your advancement and joy of the faith, (Philippians 1:21-25, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** Paul the Apostle (imprisonment) - **Audience:** Christian believers in Philippi - **Location:** composed during Roman imprisonment - **Time period:** composed c. AD 60-62 ## Theological reading ## Key words - [G5547 - christos](/codex/g5547-christos/), *christos* (Strong's G5547). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.16](/codex/matthew-1-16/), [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/). ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses. ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [Argument from Personal Identity](/codex/argument-from-the-memory-continuity-convergence/), via [Philippians 1.21-23](/codex/philippians-1-21-23/) - [Argument from the Memory-Continuity Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-memory-continuity-convergence/), via [Philippians 1.21-23](/codex/philippians-1-21-23/) - [Modal Argument from Mind](/codex/modal-argument-from-mind/) **Concepts:** - [Angels](/codex/angels/) - [Church at Philippi](/codex/church-at-philippi/), via [Philippians 1.12-26](/codex/philippians-1-12-26/), [Philippians 1.20-23](/codex/philippians-1-20-23/) - [Eschatology](/codex/eschatology/) - [Heaven](/codex/heaven/) - [New Heavens and New Earth](/codex/new-heavens-and-new-earth/) - [Property Dualism](/codex/property-dualism/) - [Soul](/codex/h5315-nephesh/) - [Spiritualism](/codex/spiritualism/) - [Substance Dualism](/codex/substance-dualism/) **Lexicon:** - [G5590 - psyche](/codex/g5590-psyche/) **Other pages:** - [Resurrection of the Body](/codex/resurrection-of-the-body/)