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2 Samuel 24:14
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his merciesare great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

1 Thessalonians 2:1,13
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: …

Luke 12:50
But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

a desire.

Luke 2:29,30
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: …

John 13:1
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident,I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

with.

Job 19:26,27
Andthough after my skinworms destroy thisbody, yet in my flesh shall I see God: …

Psalm 49:15
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Luke 8:38
Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

far.

Psalm 16:10,11
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption…

Psalm 17:15
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psalm 73:24-26
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive meto glory…

I desire to depart and be with Christ,
Paul's longing to "depart" indicates his readiness for death, which he views not as an end but as a transition to a more profound existence with Christ. This reflects the Christian belief in the afterlife, where death is a gateway to eternal life with the Savior. The term "depart" can be likened to a ship setting sail, suggesting a journey to a better place. This desire is rooted in the assurance of salvation and the promise of being in the presence of the Lord, as seen in2 Corinthians 5:8, where Paul states, "to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

which is far better indeed.
Paul emphasizes the superiority of being with Christ over any earthly experience. This conviction underscores the Christian hope of eternal life, where believers will experience the fullness of joy and peace in the presence of God. The phrase "far better" suggests an incomparable state of existence, aligning with the biblical promise of a future glory that surpasses present sufferings (Romans 8:18). This assurance provides comfort and motivation for believers to endure trials, knowing that their ultimate reward is with Christ in eternity.

Paul writes, “I am torn between the two” (Philippians 1:23), revealing a genuine inner tension:

• On one hand, he longs to continue ministering on earth, knowing that “to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).

• On the other, he yearns for the immediate presence of Jesus.

Scripture often highlights this struggle between present duty and future hope:2 Corinthians 5:8 speaks of being “away from the body and at home with the Lord,” whileRomans 7:22–23 shows the apostle wrestling between two realities—earthly service and heavenly desire.

The word “desire” signals a deep longing, not a mere passing thought. Paul sees death as a departure, much like a ship casting off its moorings. He echoes this imagery later: “The time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6).

•Luke 23:43 assures immediate paradise for the believer—“Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

•Hebrews 11:13–16 reminds us that God’s people confess they are “strangers and exiles on the earth,” looking for a better homeland.

With that in mind, Paul’s desire isn’t morbid; it’s hope-filled, anchored in the promise of eternal life (John 11:25–26).

Paul’s ultimate goal is not merely heaven but Christ Himself.John 14:3 records Jesus’ pledge: “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.”

•1 Thessalonians 4:17 reassures believers that we will be “with the Lord forever.”

•Revelation 21:3 celebrates the climax of redemption: “God Himself will be with them.”

Being “with Christ” is personal and immediate; there is no soul-sleep or impersonal afterlife. The believer steps from this life straight into the Savior’s presence (2 Corinthians 5:6–8).

Paul doesn’t say “slightly better” but “far better.” The contrast between earthly trials and heavenly glory is stark:

•Romans 8:18: “The sufferings of this present time are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.”

•Psalm 16:11: “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

•Revelation 21:4 promises an existence without death, mourning, crying, or pain.

For Paul, nothing on earth—ministry success, friendships, or personal achievements—can rival being with Christ.

Philippians 1:23 unveils Paul’s heart: torn between fruitful labor here and the far-better reality of being with Jesus. He longs to depart this life, not out of despair, but out of confident hope that immediate, joyous fellowship with Christ awaits. This verse invites believers to live faithfully now while keeping eyes fixed on the incomparable glory that lies ahead in the presence of the Lord.

To be with Christ.--This is contemplated by St. Paul as the immediate consequence of death, even while still "out of the body," and before the great day. The state of the faithful departed is usually spoken of as one of "rest" (1Corinthians 15:51-52;1Thessalonians 4:14-16;Revelation 14:13), although not without expectation and longing for the consummation of all things (Revelation 6:10-11). Such a condition of rest, and suspension of conscious exercise of spiritual energy, is, indeed, that which human reason and analogy would suggest, so far as they can suggest anything on this mysterious subject. But such passages as this seem certainly to imply that this rest is emphatically a "rest in the Lord," having an inner consciousness of communion with Christ. His "descent unto Hades," not only brings out the reality of the unseen world of souls, but also claims it as His. As on earth and in heaven, so also in the intermediate state, we are "ever with the Lord;" and that state, though not yet made perfect, is spiritually far higher than this earthly life. The original here is an emphatic double comparative, "far, far better." . . .