PHP 1:22 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) If I continue to live in this body, I can continue in productive work, but I don’t really know which is my preference.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Now if to live in the flesh, this is fruitful labor for me, but I do not know which I will choose.

UST But if I continue to live here in my body, I will be able to productively serve the Messiah. So I do not know which I prefer, to live or to die.

BSB But if I go on living in [the] body, this [will mean] fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know.

BLB But if I am to live in flesh, this is the fruit of labor for me. And what shall I choose? I do not know.

AICNT But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I do not know.

OEB But what if the life here in the body – if this brings me fruit from my labours? Then which to choose I cannot tell! I am sorely perplexed either way!

WEBBE But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer:

LSV And if to live in the flesh [is] to me a fruit of work, then what will I choose? I do not know;

FBV But if I'm to go on living here and this would be productive work, then I really don't know what's best to choose!

TCNT But if I am to live in the flesh, it will mean fruit from my labor. Yet I do not know which I prefer.

T4T On the other hand, if I continue to live, that will enable me to continue to serve Christ effectively. As a result, I do not know which to choose.

LEB But if it is to live in the flesh, this is fruitful work for me, and which I will prefer I do not know.

BBE But if I go on living in the flesh — if this is the fruit of my work — then I do not see what decision to make.

Moff But then, if it is to be life here below, that means fruitful work for me. So — well, I cannot tell which to choose;

Wymth But since to live means a longer stay on earth, that implies more labour for me—and not unsuccessful labour; and which I am to choose I cannot tell.

ASV But if to live in the flesh,—if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not.

DRA And if to live in the flesh, this is to me the fruit of labour, and what I shall choose I know not.

YLT And if to live in the flesh [is] to me a fruit of work, then what shall I choose? I know not;

Drby but if to live in flesh [is my lot], this is for me worth the while: and what I shall choose I cannot tell.

RV But if to live in the flesh,—if this is the fruit of my work, then what I shall choose I wot not.

SLT And if to live in the flesh, this to me the fruit of work: and whether I shall be taken away I know not.

Wbstr But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I know not.

KJB-1769 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

KJB-1611 But if I liue in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shal chuse, I wote not.
(But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose, I wote not.)

Bshps But if I lyue in the fleshe, this (is) the fruite of my labour, and what I shall chose, I wote not.
(But if I live in the flesh, this (is) the fruit of my labour, and what I shall chose, I wote not.)

Gnva And whether to liue in the flesh were profitable for me, and what to chuse I knowe not.
(And whether to live in the flesh were profitable for me, and what to choose I know not. )

Cvdl But in as moch as to lyue in ye flesh is frutefull to me for the worke, I wote not what
(But in as much as to live in ye/you_all flesh is fruitful to me for the work, I wote not what)

TNT Yf it chaunce me to live in the flesshe that is to me frutefull forto worke and what to chose I wote not.
(If it chance me to live in the flesh that is to me fruitful forto work and what to chose I wote not. )

Wycl That if to lyue in fleisch, is fruyt of werk to me, lo! what Y schal chese, Y knowe not.
(That if to live in flesh, is fruit of work to me, lo! what I shall chese, I know not.)

Luth Sintemal aber im Fleisch leben dienet, mehr Frucht zu schaffen, so weiß ich nicht, welches ich erwählen soll.
(Sintemal but in_the flesh life serves, more fruit to/for create/make, so white I not, which I choose should.)

ClVg Quod si vivere in carne, hic mihi fructus operis est, et quid eligam ignoro.[fn]
(That when/but_if to_live in/into/on flesh/meat, this/here to_me fruit work it_is, and what eligam I_don't_know. )

1.22 Quod si vivere, etc. Christus est mihi vivere, ut eum magnificem. Quod si est, tunc nescio quid eligam, mori, an vivere. Quasi: Nisi hic fructus esset, non dubium quin mori eligerem ut Christum haberem præmium: et ideo, ne dubitetis mori pro Christo.

1.22 That when/but_if to_live, etc. Christ/Messiah it_is to_me to_live, as him magnificem. That when/but_if it_is, then nescio what eligam, to_die, an to_live. Quasi: Unless this/here fruit was, not/no doubt/hesitation because to_die eligerem as Christ/Messiah to_havem prize: and therefore/for_that_reason, not dubitetis to_die for to_Christ/Messiah.

UGNT εἰ δὲ τὸ ζῆν ἐν σαρκί, τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου. καὶ τί αἱρήσομαι, οὐ γνωρίζω.
(ei de to zaʸn en sarki, touto moi karpos ergou. kai ti hairaʸsomai, ou gnōrizō.)

SBL-GNT εἰ δὲ τὸ ζῆν ἐν σαρκί, τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου— καὶ τί αἱρήσομαι οὐ γνωρίζω·
(ei de to zaʸn en sarki, touto moi karpos ergou— kai ti hairaʸsomai ou gnōrizō;)

RP-GNT Εἰ δὲ τὸ ζῇν ἐν σαρκί, τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου· καὶ τί αἱρήσομαι οὐ γνωρίζω.
(Ei de to zaʸn en sarki, touto moi karpos ergou; kai ti hairaʸsomai ou gnōrizō.)

TC-GNT Εἰ δὲ τὸ ζῇν ἐν σαρκί, τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου· καὶ τί αἱρήσομαι οὐ γνωρίζω.
(Ei de to zaʸn en sarki, touto moi karpos ergou; kai ti hairaʸsomai ou gnōrizō. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ (from our SR-GNT base).

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Living for Christ

From prison Paul writes, “To me, living means living for Christ” (1:21). Why are believers called to devote their lives to Christ?

1. Believers acknowledge that they owe everything to Christ, including their salvation. Devoting their life to his service expresses their eternal indebtedness and gratitude (see Rom 12:1).

2. Believers acknowledge Christ as their master and Lord and submit to Christ’s rule in their lives. They recognize that they belong to the Lord and no longer live simply for themselves (see Rom 14:7-9; 2 Cor 5:14-15).

3. Believers now share in Christ’s death and resurrection—they have died to themselves and have risen with him (see Rom 6:3-14; cp. Gal 2:19-20). They have a new identity in Christ (Rom 8:14-17; Eph 1:11, 14; Phil 3:20).

4. Believers recognize that everything of value is found in Christ. Things of the world that once seemed important have lost their attraction; nothing compares to the infinite value of knowing Christ (Phil 3:7-11; Eph 1:3–3:21; Col 1:15–3:4).

Passages for Further Study

Rom 6:3-14; 8:14-17; 12:1; 14:7-9; 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Cor 5:14-15; Gal 2:19-20; Eph 1:11, 14; Phil 1:21; 3:7-11, 20

SOTN 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).

UTN 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