PHP 1:22 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. εἴτε
2. eite
3. -
4. -
5. 15350
6. C·······
7. if_also
8. if_also
9. -
10. -
11. 131092
1. εἰ
2. ei
3. if
4. -
5. 14870
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131093
1. Δέ
2. de
3. But
4. but
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y64
11. 131094
1. τό
2. ho
3. which
4. which
5. 35880
6. R····NNS
7. ¬which
8. ¬which
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131095
1. ζῆν
2. zaō
3. to be living
4. -
5. 21980
6. VNPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ living
8. ˓to_be˒ living
9. -
10. Y64; F131104
11. 131096
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131097
1. σαρκί
2. sarka
3. +the flesh
4. body
5. 45610
6. N····DFS
7. ˓the˒ flesh
8. ˓the˒ flesh
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131098
1. τοῦτο
2. houtos
3. this
4. -
5. 37780
6. R····NNS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131099
1. μοί
2. egō
3. for me is
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1D·S
7. ˱for˲ me ‹is›
8. ˱for˲ me ‹is›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131100
1. καρπός
2. karpos
3. +the fruit
4. -
5. 25900
6. N····NMS
7. ˓the˒ fruit
8. ˓the˒ fruit
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131101
1. ἔργου
2. ergon
3. of work
4. work
5. 20410
6. N····GNS
7. ˱of˲ work
8. ˱of˲ work
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131102
1. Καί
2. kai
3. And
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y64
11. 131103
1. τί
2. tis
3. what
4. -
5. 51010
6. R····ANS
7. what
8. what
9. -
10. Y64; R131090; R131096
11. 131104
1. αἱρήσομαι
2. aireō
3. I will be choosing
4. -
5. 1380
6. VIFM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ choosing
8. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ choosing
9. -
10. Y64; R130717; Person=Paul
11. 131105
1. αἱρήσωμαι
2. aireō
3. -
4. -
5. 1380
6. VSAM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ chose
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ chose
9. -
10. -
11. 131106
1. οὒ
2. ou
3. not
4. don't
5. 37560
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131107
1. γνωρίζω
2. gnōrizō
3. I am making known
4. -
5. 11070
6. VIPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ making_known
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ making_known
9. -
10. Y64; R130717; Person=Paul
11. 131108

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:18e–26: Paul rejoiced because he expected that what was happening would lead to good, whether he lived or died

Paul wanted to bring honor to Christ whether he lived or died. He knew that dying and being with Christ would be the supreme good, but he also wanted to be with the Philippians to help them grow in their faith. And he expected that God would let him continue living and helping others.

Paragraph 1:21–26

Paul wanted very much to go and be with Christ, but it was more necessary for the Philippian believers that he continue living.

1:22–24

In 1:22–24 Paul discussed the advantages of dying and the advantages of living. He was making an emotional statement. He said that he deeply loved Christ and the Philippians. So he wanted very much to be with Christ in heaven, yet he also wanted to be with the Philippian believers on earth. But he knew that he could not do both at the same time. So it was very hard for him to know what would be best.

1:22

The grammar of 1:22 in the Greek is difficult, perhaps because Paul was expressing himself emotionally. The verse has an “if…then” structure, but it is not clear where the “if” clause ends. There are two possibilities:

The “if” clause covers only the words “if I go on living in the body.” For example: “If I continue to live in the body, then that means fruitful labor for me. I do not know which to choose”. (RSV, NIV, NET, REB, NASB, NLT, NCV, GW)
The “if” clause also covers the concept of fruitful labor. For example: “If continuing to live means fruitful labor for me, then I do not know which I will choose”. (GNT, NJB, CEV)

The difference in meaning between the two interpretations is actually very small, but the first one is recommended (1).

1:22a

But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.

But if I continue to live in this body, I will be able to do productive work for Christ.
But if I keep living in this world, I will have useful work to do.

living in the body: The Greek word that the BSB translated as body literally means “flesh.” Paul was referring to staying alive on earth in his present physical body. One way to translate this is as “living in this world.” See “flesh", sense A2 in KBT.

fruitful labor: The Greek is literally “fruit of work” and refers to work that has useful results, work that is productive and worthwhile. Paul was specifically thinking about helping more people to know Christ and helping the Philippians and others to continue growing in grace. Some ways to translate the phrase “fruitful labor for me” are:

I can continue to get results from the work I am doing.

I will be able to help more people.

1:22b

So what shall I choose? I do not know.

But I do not know what I prefer/want, that is, to continue to live or to die.

So: Although the BSB translates it as So, the Greek connecting word, kai, means “and, yet, but.” It can show either continuation or contrast. Here it may indicate:

the beginning of a further independent or even contrasting thought. (NIV, RSV, GW, NLT, NCV, REB)
the continuation of the thought of the earlier part of the verse. (BSB, NET)

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1).

what shall I choose: You could restate this as “Which do I prefer?” Paul was not trying to decide what would happen to him. Only God could do this. Paul was trying to decide which of God’s choices would be better. He explained these two choices further in 1:23–24.

I do not know: The Greek verb gnōrizō has been interpreted in two ways:

It means “know, perceive.” This is the common meaning in most classical Greek literature. (BSB, NIV, GNT, NET, NASB, GW, NCV, CEV, NJB, KJV)
It means “make known, declare, tell.” This is the most common meaning elsewhere in the New Testament, and some commentators say that is what it also means here.

Although RSV and REB translate it as “I cannot tell,” this expression can be an English idiom that means “I do not know” or “I cannot decide.” So it is not possible to be certain which interpretation these two versions follow.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἐν σαρκί

in ˓the˒_flesh

Paul is using the word flesh to refer to his entire body. The phrase in the flesh then refers to living as physical beings. If this would be confusing in your language, consider using a different word or phrase that refers to this present physical life. Alternate translation: [on this earth] or [in this world]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ τό ζῆν ἐν σαρκί τοῦτο μοί καρπός ἔργου Καί τί αἱρήσομαι οὒ γνωρίζω)

The word fruitful refers to Paul’s work producing good results. This is a metaphor in which Paul’s anticipated productive work is compared to a plant or tree which produces good fruit. Alternate translation: [this will mean effectively serving God] or [this will mean productively working for the advancement of the gospel]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ τό ζῆν ἐν σαρκί τοῦτο μοί καρπός ἔργου Καί τί αἱρήσομαι οὒ γνωρίζω)

If the an abstract noun labor would be unclear in your language, you may express the meaning behind this word by using a verb phrase. Alternate translation: [I will accomplish something important]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. But
2. but
3. 11610
4. S
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y64
11. 131094
1. if
2. -
3. 14870
5. ei
6. C-·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131093
1. which
2. which
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····NNS
7. ¬which
8. ¬which
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131095
1. to be living
2. -
3. 21980
5. zaō
6. V-NPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ living
8. ˓to_be˒ living
9. -
10. Y64; F131104
11. 131096
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131097
1. +the flesh
2. body
3. 45610
5. sarka
6. N-····DFS
7. ˓the˒ flesh
8. ˓the˒ flesh
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131098
1. this
2. -
3. 37780
5. houtos
6. R-····NNS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131099
1. for me is
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1D·S
7. ˱for˲ me ‹is›
8. ˱for˲ me ‹is›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131100
1. +the fruit
2. -
3. 25900
5. karpos
6. N-····NMS
7. ˓the˒ fruit
8. ˓the˒ fruit
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131101
1. of work
2. work
3. 20410
5. ergon
6. N-····GNS
7. ˱of˲ work
8. ˱of˲ work
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131102
1. And
2. -
3. 25320
4. S
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y64
11. 131103
1. what
2. -
3. 51010
5. tis
6. R-····ANS
7. what
8. what
9. -
10. Y64; R131090; R131096
11. 131104
1. I will be choosing
2. -
3. 1380
5. aireō
6. V-IFM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ choosing
8. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ choosing
9. -
10. Y64; R130717; Person=Paul
11. 131105
1. not
2. don't
3. 37560
5. ou
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131107
1. I am making known
2. -
3. 11070
5. gnōrizō
6. V-IPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ making_known
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ making_known
9. -
10. Y64; R130717; Person=Paul
11. 131108

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear PHP 1:22