Bible Studies

Does Philippians 1 23 teach that believers will go to heaven when they die?

by lee thriepland
08/08/18
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Does Philippians 1-23  teach that believers will go to heaven when they die? (extract from my full writing do believers go to heaven when they die?)

It is most commonly believed in the Christian teaching that when a person dies they go either to heaven or to hell. The saved being the ones who go to heaven to be with God, the unsaved go to hell.

One of the verses used to support the idea that the Bible teaches that people will go straight to heaven when they die is Philippians 1-23.

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

But was Paul really meaning that he was torn between staying in the flesh and dying and going to be with Jesus in heaven?

We again must put the verse back into context and apply some understanding to Paul’s statement.

irst off we know Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the Philippians, Paul states this himself

Philippians 1-  7Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

Philippians 1- 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul was also aware that he could be put to death.

Philippians 1- 20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, sonow also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

In verse 21 Paul contrasts life and death

Philippians 1- 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain

So we know that Paul is talking about life and death. But we can't simply assume Paul is referring to death as going to heaven to be with the Lord.

The confusion comes mainly because people who hold to the belief of believers going to heaven confuse the English word WITH. People who believe Paul was saying he had a desire to depart, to die, and be with Christ automatically assume or at least infer that this means with as in terms of location. To be WITH the Lord in Heaven.

However the word translated as WITH is in this verse is the Greek word σύν sun or syn and actually means in union or togetherness with and not denoting with as in physical location

We can see this in Romans 6-8

Romans 6-8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

With clearly meaning in union and not location. This is also the case in Colossians 2-20

Colossians 2-20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Again denoting a unison and not a geographic or physical location.

Paul was actually saying he was torn between staying in the flesh, remaining alive which would have been a benefit to the Philippians or to be WITH Christ in unison in his death and in his sufferings which paul states would be far better. Paul himself EXPLAINS this conflict regarding suffering for Christ that he was having later in the same chapter

1 Philippians 1- 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Notice how in verse 21 Paul stated to LIVE is Christ and to die is gain

Philippians 1- 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain

This is more often than not ignored when pushing the understanding of verse 23.

Here Paul is saying that to be physically alive is Christ, Christ living inside him it was actually being ALIVE that Paul connected with Christ not death. He then states But to die is gain. But what gain is Paul referring to? Personal gain? The gain of being in location (heaven) with Jesus? The latter being what is most often understood.

But again no, the gain that Paul was referring to was the gain for CHRIST that would come from his death.

Paul explained that through his afflictions, his chains of bonds Christ was made manifest and actual FURTHERED the Gospel.

Philippians 1- 12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

That his afflictions brought confidence to those who would speak the word, that they would do it without fear.

Philippians 1- 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

Paul was torn between the need (of others) for him to remain alive that through his being alive would benefit his brethren

Philippians 1- 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

And the desire to depart, to die, and to be with (to be in unison) with Christ in his sufferings. Something that Paul reiterated throughout his letter.

Philippians 2- 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Philippians 3-  10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Paul also mentioned suffering with Christ in Romans even saying that the sufferings of our time now could not be compared to the glory that is revealed in us through those sufferings and that we are glorified together with Christ.

Romans 8-  17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 8-18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

He told the Philippians that whether he came unto them or not that they should stand fast in one spirit, being together and to be of one mind

Philippians 1- 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Which Paul also stated later in his letter

Philippians 2 - 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Christ was obedient even unto death.

Philippians 2-8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

And it is that mind that Paul is asserting.

Paul stated that whether he lived or died Christ would be magnified in his body.

Philippians 1-  20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, sonow also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

When we examine the context of the verse it is very clear that Paul was not saying he had desire to physically be with Christ for it was being alive that was Christ and  he knew that this would not happen until Christ’s return, at his appearing.

2 Timothy 4- 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Rather Paul was torn between staying in the flesh which would be the fruit of his labour,

Philippians 1- 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not

and dying and being with Christ in his suffering, in unison, together with Christ unto his death. He was simply contrasting the benefits to the Gospel of Christ between his remaining alive to those of his death.

Again the verse does not support the belief that believers who die will go to heaven to be with the Lord.