Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.  (21) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22) But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor, yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.  (23) For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.  (24) Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.  (27) Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ

The city of Philippi was one of the leading cities of Macedonia largely because the Via Egnatia, the main road from Asia to the West, ran right through it.  Phillipians were allowed  an autonomous government and were not required to send tribute to Rome.                                          The Church at Philippi was founded in A.D. 50 by the Apostle Paul who was imprisoned in Rome at the time of writing this letter probably in A.D. 61.  Paul is writing to the Philippians to assure them he loved them and was praying for them.  Joy is a prominent theme in his letter.  Paul expresses that he is in chains but his situation has only helped in the furtherance of the Gospel as he has been able to reach the Roman guards and even the royal house.  The Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen and accorded certain rights and though under house arrest in Rome and chained to guards, he was not silenced – so the guards chained to him on a rotating basis were an unwilling (or willing) audience during this period.  Paul considered his imprisonment to be the working of God’s sovereign will.  He expresses that Christ would be magnified by his continued life or by his death as either would glorify Christ.  If he lived, he would continue to minister to the Philippians and the Church.  If he were to be executed he would be with Christ and that would be gain.  He has confidence that Christ is using him to further the Gospel.  Paul has a certain expectation of future good – it is not that Paul will exalt Christ but that Christ will be exalted by the continued work of the Holy Spirit in Paul.  Remember that Paul was awaiting trial and could either be released or executed.  His point is that his life or his death makes no difference – only that Christ be magnified in him.  Either suffices.  Paul’s goal was to complete his ministry one way or another and to manifest the spirit of Christ by leading a life that magnifies and glorifies him.  The issue was in God’s hands and given the choice, the Apostle Paul could not choose either heaven or earth for himself.  Paul was ready to go but willing to wait.  He was pulled in two directions and in both cases it was for the highest reasons.  The mark of God’s man (or woman) is an unwavering and unselfish spirit.  Paul is urging the Church at Phillipi to live in this world as citizens of another world – to be holy or apart; to be reflective of their standing as citizens of a heavenly realm.