giving at least the sense of the original.  'The pressing out of the two into

a third'; the rendering of a word which means return in the sense of the

returning of a body to its elements (the Scriptural idea of death) as though

it could fitly be used of the return of the Lord are figments, merely the

zeal of those who, while holding the general truth regarding the intermediate

state, have intruded this into a passage which does not require it.

There are several words which the apostle uses when speaking of the

Coming of the Lord; there is parousia, meaning personal presence, epiphaneia,

a manifestation, apokalupsis, a revelation, but there is no passage where the

Lord is said to have an analysis, a 'return'.  Had such an expression been

common, some excuse may have been found for reading it in Philippians 1:23,

whereas the reading itself is isolated and unsupported by any other

Scripture.  Luke 19:12 is the only passage that can be brought forward, and

this is of itself enough to condemn the application of Philippians 1:23, for

the context speaks of going away to receive a kingdom and to return, whereas

the apostle's hopes were not connected with the kingdom to which the Lord

could return, but with a position where the Lord then was and still is -- at

the right hand of God.

There is need for us all to pray that we may 'know what is the hope of

His calling'; when we do we shall cease from speaking of the Lord's 'return',

for the Church which is His Body, and think more of 'things above' where we

shall be 'manifested with Him in glory'.  The Second Coming is associated

with the Three Spheres of Blessing4, which see.

We would call attention in closing to the structure of the passage

already given.  Notice how 'living in the flesh' is balanced by 'abiding in

the flesh', the 'fruit of my labour' being connected with need of the

Philippians.  Notice Paul's desire 'to be with Christ' and compare it with

what he actually experienced 'to be with you all':

'For to me the living (is) Christ and the dying (is) gain.  But if the

living in the flesh (is Christ) this to me is fruit of (my) work, and

what I shall choose I do not make known.  But (i.e. instead of making

known) I am held in constraint (colloquially "I am in a fix", more

refined as A.V. "I am in a strait") by reason of two (here are "the

Having a strong desire to the return (dissolution, departure,

death), and to be with Christ, for it were far better, but

The abiding in the flesh is more needful for you, and having this

confidence, I perceive that I shall abide and continue beside you

all for your progress and joy of faith'.

The question as to what the apostle really had before him which was

'far better' still remains a matter for earnest inquiry.  We believe that we

have been able to show that it is directly connected with the out -

resurrection and prize of Philippians 3.  (See Prize3; also Absent, p. 1;

Absent1; and Out -Resurrection3).

See Wages of Sin7.