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  • Philippians 1:23
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
    • 23 I am torn between these two things, for I do desire the releasing and the being with Christ,+ which is, to be sure, far better.+

  • Philippians 1:23
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
    • 23 συνέχομαι I am being held together δὲ but ἐκ out of τῶν the δύο, two (things), τὴν the ἐπιθυμίαν desire ἔχων having εἰς into τὸ the ἀναλῦσαι to be loosing up καὶ and σὺν together with Χριστῷ Christ εἶναι, to be, πολλῷ to much γὰρ for μᾶλλον rather κρεῖσσον, better,

  • Philippians 1:23
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
    • 23 I am under pressure from these two things;+ but what I do desire is the releasing* and the being with Christ,+ for this, to be sure, is far better.+

  • Philippians 1:23
    The Bible in Living English
    • 23 but I am caught between the two things, having the desire for getting away and being with Christ—for it is a very long way better—

  • Philippians 1:23
    American Standard Version
    • 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:

  • Philippians 1:23
    The Emphasized Bible
    • 23 I am held in constraint however by reason of the two,—Having the coveting to be released and to be with Christ, For it were far better!

  • Philippians 1:23
    King James Version
    • 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

  • Philippians
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1986-2025
    • 1:23 w08 8/15 28; w95 3/1 30-31

  • Philippians
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985
    • 1:23 int 1151; Rbi8 1578; bi8-71 1364; int69 1162; bi8-63 3591; g57 3/8 25; bi7-50 780; w46 122

  • Philippians
    Research Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses—2019 Edition
    • 1:23

      The Watchtower,

      8/15/2008, p. 28

      3/1/1995, pp. 30-31

  • Philippians Study Notes—Chapter 1
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
    • 1:23

      I am torn between these two things: While under house arrest, awaiting trial before Caesar, Paul felt torn between two possibilities. One was to remain alive in order to continue serving his brothers. The other was to die as a faithful servant of God. (2Ti 4:7, 8) Paul did not say which one he would choose. (Php 1:22) However, he did say that “the releasing and the being with Christ” was the better option. He knew that his remaining faithful until death was the only way to be assured of his heavenly reward during Christ’s presence.​—Re 2:10.

      the releasing: Paul is apparently referring to his death. In his second letter to Timothy, written about 65 C.E., he uses a related Greek word when he says regarding his death: “The time for my releasing is imminent.” (2Ti 4:6) The expressions “the releasing and the being with Christ” are apparently parallel to what Paul says at 2Co 5:8: “We . . . would prefer to be absent from the body and to make our home with the Lord.” He viewed his death as a faithful anointed servant of God as a “releasing,” paving the way for him to be resurrected later to life in Christ’s “heavenly Kingdom.” (2Ti 4:18) As Paul explained at 1Co 15:23, “those who belong to the Christ” would be resurrected to heavenly life “during [Christ’s future] presence.” So Paul is here expressing his desire to finish his earthly course faithfully so that he could later be resurrected to heavenly life. Paul’s usage of the term “releasing” is not unique. Other Greek writers used the term as a euphemism for dying.

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