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The "mind" of Christ, exhibited pre-eminently in His wonderful kenosis ("He emptied
Himself"), and partially seen in the lives of Timothy, Epaphroditus, and Paul, is essential
to the attaining of the Prize, "The body of His glory".
3. PAUL'S DESIRE. (Phil. 1: 21-26).
A | 21. To me (emoi) ; to live is Christ.
B | 22, 23. a. Live in flesh.--Fruit.
b. Paul's desire.--Not made known (I wot not).
100: Paul's desire.--To be with Christ.
B | 24, 25. a. Alive in the flesh.--Needful for you.
b. Paul's confidence.--I know.
100: Paul's continuance.--With you all.
A | 26. By me (emoi) ; my presence ; glorying in Christ.
"I wot not."--The word gnorizo occurs in N.T. 24 times. Paul uses it 18 times, and of
these, 11 are found in the Prison Epistles (Phil. 4: 6, Eph. 1: 9, 3: 3, 5, 10, 6: 19, 21,
Col. 1: 27, 4: 7, 9). One meaning only fits all cases, i.e., "to make known". This
disposes of the idea that Paul did not know which to choose.
"In a strait." (sunecho).--Luke 8: 45, 12: 50, 19: 63; Acts 7: 57. Every passage
demands the meaning "to hold fast", "to keep in", "to stop".
"betwixt two" (ek).--Sometimes means "with"--(Matt. 27: 7,
Mark 12: 30,
John 12: 30). Sometimes means "by"--(Matt. 12: 33, Titus 3: 5, Rev. 9: 18).
Sometimes means "by reason of"--(Rev. 8: 13, 9: 2, 18: 19).
"The two."--They are (1) The desire to depart and be with Christ.
(2) The necessity to remain in the flesh.
One would be the apostle's own gain; but the other would benefit the Philippians. He
chose the latter, while desiring the former.
"to depart" (analuo).--Gives us `to analyze' (Luke 12: 36). Rotherham translates,
"break up at the marriage feast" (the schoolboy's "breaking up" for the holidays). Paul
settles his own meaning by repeating himself in II Timothy:--
Phil. 2: 17. Ready to be offered.
II Tim. 4: 6. About to be offered.
1: 23. Desiring to depart.
same.
Time of my departure has come.
4. THE PRIZE. (Phil. 3: 14).
1. The Crown of Righteousness, and two-fold justification.
2. Enduring and reigning. Scripture testimony generally.
3. The Circumcision, the Cross, and the Crown.