Phili 1:21-22 | RWP | e4.org | For to me ( εμο γαρ ). Fine example of the ethical dative. Paul gives his own view of living. To live is Christ ( το ζηιν Χριστος ). No copula ( εστιν ), but το ζηιν (the act of living present active infinitive) is the subject as is shown by the article το . Living is coextensive with Christ. Gain ( κερδος ). Old word for any gain or profit, interest on money (so in papyri). In N.T. only here, ; . To die ( το αποθανειν , second aorist active infinitive, single act) is to cash in both principal and interest and so to have more of Christ than when living. So Paul faces death with independence and calm courage.

‏ Philippians 1:21-22

For to me ( εμο γαρ ). Fine example of the ethical dative. Paul gives his own view of living.

To live is Christ ( το ζηιν Χριστος ). No copula ( εστιν ), but το ζηιν (the act of living present active infinitive) is the subject as is shown by the article το. Living is coextensive with Christ.

Gain ( κερδος ). Old word for any gain or profit, interest on money (so in papyri). In N.T. only here, Php 3:7; Tit 1:11.

To die ( το αποθανειν, second aorist active infinitive, single act) is to cash in both principal and interest and so to have more of Christ than when living. So Paul faces death with independence and calm courage.

If this is the fruit of my work ( τουτο μο καρπος εργου ). There is no ε (if) here in the Greek, but τουτο (this) seems to be resumptive and to repeat the conditional clause just before. If so, κα just after means

then and introduces the conclusion of the condition. Otherwise τουτο introduces the conclusion and κα means

and.

I wot not ( ου γνωριζω ). "I know not." It seems odd to preserve the old English word "wot" here. But it is not clear that γνωριζω (old causative verb from γινωσκω ) means just to know. Elsewhere in the N.T., as in Lu 2:15; Ro 9:22, it means to make known, to declare. The papyri examples mean to make known. It makes perfectly good sense to take its usual meaning here, "I do not declare what I shall choose."