Philippians 1 · Verse 24

Philippians 1:24

Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Philippians 1:24, King James Version

Philippians 1:24 in other translations

BSBBut it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
WEBYet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.
ASVyet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake.
YLTand to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account,
DARBYbut remaining in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes;
BBEStill, to go on in the flesh is more necessary because of you.
WebsterNevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

What does Philippians 1:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. to abide--to continue somewhat longer. for you--Greek, "on your account"; "for your sake." In order to be of service to you, I am willing to forego my entrance a little sooner into blessedness; heaven will not fail to be mine at last.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh. To live. All this is language derived from the belief that the soul will be separate from the body at death, and will occupy a separate state of existence.

Is more needful for you. Another object that was dear to the heart of Paul. He never supposed that his life was useless; or that it was a matter of no importance to the cause of religion whether he lived or died. He knew that God works by means; and that the life of a minister of the gospel is of real value to the church and the world. His experience, his influence, his paternal counsels, he felt assured, would be of value to the church; and he had, therefore, a desire to live--and it was no part of his religion affectedly to undervalue or despise himself.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 To abide in the flesh - It would certainly be gain to myself to die, but it will be a gain to you if I live. If I die I shall go immediately to glory; if I live I shall continue to minister to you, and strengthen you in the faith.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philippians 1:21-26

Death is a great loss to a carnal, worldly man, for he loses all his earthly comforts and all his hopes; but to a true believer it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery. It delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to possess the chief good. The apostle's difficulty was not between living in this world and living in heaven; between these two there is no comparison; but between…

Read the full comment on Philippians 1:21-26 →

Philippians 1:24 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τὸto<the>G3588
δὲdebutG1161
ἐπιμένεινepimeneinto remainG1961
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
σαρκὶsarkifleshG4561
ἀναγκαιότερονanagkaioteron[is] more necessaryG316
δι᾽di᾽for the sake ofG1223
ὑμᾶς.humasyou.G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Philippians 1:24

  • Philippians 1:25-26

    And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

  • 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.

  • John 16:7

    Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

  • Acts 20:29-31

    For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
22,25,26; Joh 16:7; Ac 20:29-31

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 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:

  • Philippians 1:24

    Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

  • Philippians 1:25

    And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Read all of Philippians 1

Philippians 1:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero quedar en la carne es más necesario por causa de vosotros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais il est plus nécessaire à cause de vous que je demeure dans la chair.
German
Elberfelder 1871		das Bleiben im Fleische aber ist nötiger um euretwillen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		permanere autem in carne, necessarium propter vos.