For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
For. 'Aleph (') A B C Delta f g, Vulgate, read 'But.' 'I know not (Philippians 1:22); BUT am held in a strait between the two (namely," to live" and "to die"), having the desire for departing х analusai (G360), to loose anchor] (2 Timothy 4:6), and being with Christ; FOR (so A B) it is by far better;' or х polloo (G4183) mallon (G3123) kreisson (G2908)] more forcibly, 'by far the more preferable:' a double comparative. Therefore the soul is not dormant during its separation from the body. While he regarded the Lord's advent as at all times near, yet his death before it was a very possible contingency. Eternal life is initial here. The partial life eternal is in the interval between death and Christ's second advent: the perfectional, at that advent (Dr. Pearson). To depart is better than to remain in the flesh; to be with Christ is far, far better: for me personally (a proof that the intermediate state is not one of unconsciousness) (2 Corinthians 5:8): a New Testament hope (Hebrews 12:24) (Bengel).