Philippians 1:23 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For I am in a strait, &c.— "For I am, as it were, borne two different ways; having on the one hand a more earnest desire, out of regard to my own immediate happiness, to be unbound, to weigh anchor, and, quitting these mortal shores, to set sail for that happy world, where I shall be immediately with Christ;—which is better beyond all comparison and expression, with regard to my own private happiness." The original is very emphatic; and seems to be an allusion to a ship stationed at a particular place, and riding at anchor, and at the same time likely to be forced to sea by the violenceof the winds: which gives us a lively representation of the Apostle's attachment to his situation in the Christian church, and the vehemency of his desire to weigh anchor, and set sail for the heavenly country, that he might be with Christ—an expression, which plainly proves that the separate spirits of good men are with Christ in such a manner, as that their state is far better than while they continue in this present world, which a state of insensibility cannot possibly be; though this does not tend at all to disprove that accession of happiness after the resurrection, which other scriptures plainly declare. See 2 Corinthians 5:5-10. The original of what we render far better, is so very emphatical, that it cannot be translated literally. Better beyond all expression, in some measure gives the sense; for indeed the Apostle seems to labour here for expression as much as in any part of his writings.