Verse Lens · Context pointer
Philippians 1:22 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 22. 22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Role in This Section
If Paul continues living, that life will mean fruitful work, even though he cannot choose the outcome himself.
Read It With
- Philippians 1:21–24
Read verses 21–24 together. Verse 22 develops what continued life would mean, while verses 23–24 set Paul's desire to be with Christ beside the church's need for his service.
Why It Needs Context
Verse 22 names fruitful work but leaves Paul's dilemma unfinished. Verses 23–24 show the two goods he is weighing.
Read Philippians 1:21–24 together
Why these verses belong together: Paul weighs life and death inside one Christ-centered sentence and decision.
Verse 21. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Verse 22. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
Verse 23. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Verse 24. 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Philippians 1:12–26 — Prison Has Not Stopped the GospelSources used for this context pointer
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The KJV wording and immediate English context for Philippians 1:12–26.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Philippians 1; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording and punctuation used as the base text for this passage.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Phil.txt, Philippians 1, verses within Philippians 1:12–26.
Open the Philippians Greek text file ↗