In Philippians 1, Paul is talking about his present situation in prison and he seems to be hinting that death isn't so far away. While no one is quite sure what year this letter was written, some have argued that he wrote it from Rome during his final weeks/months. Others argue that the context seems to be from an earlier time when he could have been writing from another prison. Either way, this line kind of gets me, and its the first time I've really thought hard about it (this is ESV):
This makes it very interesting, as if Paul had some say in whether or not he would be executed. Depending on which prison he was writing from, it could mean many things. I can't help but interpret this to mean that as a Roman citizen, he could appeal for a trial and extend his life (thus providing more leadership and guidance to the various churches, as he mentions right after the quoted passages) or he could take the quick way and be with Christ. He seems to be, in the bolded section and immediately thereafter, pretty torn about what he's going to do.
And since we don't know for sure whether he wrote this letter in Rome or not, is it possible that Paul, if he was writing from Rome, could have shortened his life intentionally by not going through all of the legal rights afforded to him by Rome? It seems equally possible that he's writing from another prison and chose to afford himself the rights available to a citizen, thereby extending his life.
I just never really thought about that passage that way before. Most people focus on the "to live is Christ and to die is gain" part and forget about the rest.
Anyone have an idea as to this?
quote:
21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
This makes it very interesting, as if Paul had some say in whether or not he would be executed. Depending on which prison he was writing from, it could mean many things. I can't help but interpret this to mean that as a Roman citizen, he could appeal for a trial and extend his life (thus providing more leadership and guidance to the various churches, as he mentions right after the quoted passages) or he could take the quick way and be with Christ. He seems to be, in the bolded section and immediately thereafter, pretty torn about what he's going to do.
And since we don't know for sure whether he wrote this letter in Rome or not, is it possible that Paul, if he was writing from Rome, could have shortened his life intentionally by not going through all of the legal rights afforded to him by Rome? It seems equally possible that he's writing from another prison and chose to afford himself the rights available to a citizen, thereby extending his life.
I just never really thought about that passage that way before. Most people focus on the "to live is Christ and to die is gain" part and forget about the rest.
Anyone have an idea as to this?