But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I know not.
All Commentaries on Philippians 1:22 Go To Philippians 1
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Nothing can be more blessed than the spirit of Paul, for the reason that nothing is more noble. We all shudder at death, I am wont to say, some by reason of our many sins, of whom I too am one, others from love of life, and cowardice, of whom may I never be one; for they who are subject to this fear are mere animals. This then, which we all shudder at, he prayed for, and hasted toward Him; saying, To depart is very far better. What do you say? When you are about to change from earth to heaven, and to be with Christ, do you not know what to choose? Nay, far is this from the spirit of Paul; for if such an offer were made to any one on sure grounds, would he not straightway seize it? Yes, for as it is not ours to depart and be with Christ, neither, if we were able to attain to this, were it ours to remain here. Both are of Paul, and of his spirit. He was confidently persuaded. What? Are you about to be with Christ? And do you say, What I shall choose I know not? And not this only, but do you choose that which is here, to abide in the flesh? What in the world? Did you not live an exceeding bitter life, in watchings, in shipwrecks, in hunger and thirst, and nakedness, in cares and anxiety? with the weak thou were weak, and for those who were made to stumble you burn. 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in fastings, in pureness. 2 Corinthians 6:5-6 Five times did you receive forty stripes save one, thrice were you beaten with rods, once were you stoned a night and a day you have been in the deep, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils among false brethren. 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 Did you not, when the whole nation of the Galatians returned to the observance of the law, did you not cry aloud, and say, Whosoever of you would be justified by the law, you are fallen away from grace? Galatians 5:4 How great was then your grief, and still do you desire this perishing life? Had none of these things befallen you, but had your success, wherever success attended you, been without fear, and full of delight, yet should not thou hasten to some harbor, from fear of the uncertain future? For tell me, what trader, whose vessel is full of untold wealth, when he may run into port, and be at rest, would prefer to be still at sea? What wrestler, when he might be crowned, would prefer to contend? What boxer, when he might put on his crown, would choose to enter afresh into the contest, and offer his head to wounds? What general is there, who when he might be quit of war with good report, and trophies, and might with the king refresh himself in the palace, would choose still to toil, and to stand in battle array? How then do you, who livest a life so exceeding bitter, wish to remain still here? Did you not say, I am in dread, lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected? 1 Corinthians 9:27 If for no other cause, yet surely for this, you ought to desire your release; were the present full of innumerable goods, yet for the sake of Christ your Desire.
Oh that spirit of Paul! nothing was ever like it, nor ever will be! Thou fearest the future, you are compassed by innumerable dreadful things, and will you not be with Christ? No, he answers, and this for Christ's sake, that I may render more loving unto Him those whom I have made his servants, that I may make the plot which I have planted bear much fruit. 1 Corinthians 3:9. Did you not hear me, when I declared that I sought not that which profited myself 1 Corinthians 10:33, but my neighbor? Heardest thou not these words, I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ Romans 9:3, that many might come unto Him? I, who chose that part, shall I not much rather choose this, shall I not with pleasure harm myself by this delay and postponement, that they may be saved?
Who shall utter Your mighty acts, O Lord Psalm 106:2, because You suffered not Paul to be hidden, because You made manifest to the world such a man? All the Angels of God praised You with one accord, when You made the stars Job 38:7, and so too surely when You made the sun, but not so much as when You manifested Paul to the whole world. By this, the earth was made more brilliant than the heaven, for he is brighter than the solar light, he has shot forth more brilliant rays, he has shed abroad more joyous beams. What fruit has this man borne for us! not by making fat our grain, not by nurturing our pomegranates, but by producing and perfecting the fruit of holiness, and when falling to pieces, continually recovering them. For the sun itself can nothing profit fruits that are once decayed, but Paul has called out of their sins those who had manifold decays. And it gives place to the night, but he had mastery over the Devil. Nothing ever subdued him, nothing mastered him. The sun, when it mounts the heavens, darts down its rays, but he, as he rose from beneath, filled not the mid space of heaven and earth with light, but as soon as he opened his mouth, filled the Angels with exceeding joy. For if there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents Luke 15:7, while he at his first address caught multitudes, does he not fill with joy the Powers above? What say I? It suffices that Paul should only be named, and the heavens leap for joy. For if when the Israelites went forth out of Egypt, the mountains skipped like rams Psalm 114:4, how great, do you think, was the joy, when men ascended from earth to heaven!
