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Philippians 1: To Live Is Christ

From prison Paul thanks God for the Philippians, rejoices that his chains advance the gospel, and declares that for him to live is Christ and to die is gain.

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Philippians 1 (WEB)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ; To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants:

2 Grace to you, and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God whenever I remember you,

4 always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy,

5 for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;

6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

7 It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.

8 For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

9 This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;

10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ;

11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News;

13 so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ;

14 and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.

16 The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;

17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

19 For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

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,

26 that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

27 Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;

28 and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

29 Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,

30 having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear is in me.

Summary

Paul opens with warm thanksgiving for the Philippians, whom he carries in his heart, remembering their partnership in the Good News from the first day until now. He is confident that the God who began a good work in them will complete it at the day of Jesus Christ, and he prays that their love would abound more and more in knowledge and discernment so they may be pure and fruitful. Then he turns to his own situation: far from hindering the gospel, his imprisonment has actually advanced it, making Christ known throughout the palace guard and emboldening other believers to preach. Even when some preach Christ from rivalry, Paul rejoices that Christ is proclaimed at all. He is torn between two desires—to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, or to remain in the body for the sake of the church's progress and joy. Confident that he will remain a while longer, he urges the Philippians to live worthy of the gospel, standing firm in one spirit and unafraid of their opponents. He reminds them that it has been granted to them not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him, sharing the same conflict they have seen in Paul.

Key Figures

  • Paul — The imprisoned apostle who writes with joy and thanksgiving, finding that his chains have served to advance the gospel and that for him to live is Christ.
  • The Philippian church — The beloved believers who have partnered with Paul from the first day, for whom he gives thanks and prays that their love would abound.
  • Christ Jesus — The one in whom the saints stand and for whom Paul lives; the gospel of Christ is proclaimed even through Paul's imprisonment.

Key Verse

Philippians 1:21 (WEB)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Lessons Learned

  • God is faithful to complete the good work he begins in his people (Philippians 1:6).
  • Our hardest circumstances can become the very means by which the gospel advances.
  • When Christ is our life, both living and dying become gain.
  • Living worthy of the gospel means standing firm together, unafraid of opposition.
  • God will finish his work in us. Paul is “confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, WEB). Our security rests in God's faithfulness.
  • Suffering can serve the gospel. Paul testifies that “the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News” (Philippians 1:12, WEB). God redeems our trials for his purposes.
  • Christ is worth living and dying for. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21, WEB). When he is everything, no outcome can rob us.
  • Suffering is part of the gift of faith. It has “been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf” (Philippians 1:29, WEB). Standing with Christ includes sharing his cross.
  1. What reasons does Paul give for his thanksgiving and joy over the Philippians?
  2. How has Paul's imprisonment affected the spread of the gospel, and how does he respond to those who preach from wrong motives?
  3. What does Paul mean by “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21), and why is he torn between the two?
  4. What does it look like, practically, to live “worthy of the Good News of Christ” (1:27)?
  5. Where in your life is God inviting you to find joy in the gospel even in difficult circumstances?
  1. Paul gives thanks for the Philippians' partnership in the gospel from the first day, holds them in his heart, and is confident God will complete his work in them (1:3-7). His joy flows from shared participation in Christ's mission, not from comfort. Encourage the group to give thanks for fellow believers and the work God is doing in them.
  2. Paul's chains have made Christ known to the whole palace guard and emboldened others to preach (1:12-14). Even when some preach from envy, he rejoices that Christ is proclaimed (1:18). Help the group marvel at a heart so set on Christ's glory that motives matter less than the message getting out.
  3. Christ so fills Paul's life that death would only bring him more of Christ, which is “far better,” yet he is willing to remain for the church's sake (1:21-24). Invite members to weigh what truly makes life worth living, and to see how Christ reframes even our view of death.
  4. Living worthy of the gospel means standing firm in one spirit, striving together for the faith, and not being frightened by opponents (1:27-28). Discuss concrete expressions of unity and courage in the group's own setting; emphasize that this is a shared, communal calling.
  5. This is a personal-application question. Like Paul, we can look for how God is advancing his purposes even in our hardships. As leader, invite members to name a current difficulty and ask where the gospel might be at work in it, keeping the tone gentle and hopeful.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.