{"id":38773,"date":"2018-06-16T13:51:08","date_gmt":"2018-06-16T11:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/did-paul-have-suicidal-thoughts\/"},"modified":"2023-11-12T11:45:43","modified_gmt":"2023-11-12T09:45:43","slug":"did-paul-have-suicidal-thoughts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/did-paul-have-suicidal-thoughts\/","title":{"rendered":"Did Paul have suicidal thoughts?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][uncode_block id=”34489″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”204003″]<\/p>\n

Bible passage<\/h3>\n

In an effort to present death as life, this quote from Paul is mentioned:<\/p>\n

“I have a desire to depart from the world and be with Christ, which also would be much better”
\n<\/em> Phil 1:23<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”188824″]<\/p>\n

Traditional interpretation<\/h3>\n

According to traditional interpretation, Paul should almost have something like a death wish. Doesn’t he say in this passage that it is much better to die, because “through dying” one should “be with Christ”? Is this about a longing for death that is piously packaged as a “Christ longing”? Dying is great! One then simply lives with Christ.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”135465″]<\/p>\n

Counterargument<\/h3>\n

Once again, the text is considered here without context. Paul has no longing for death, but he has a longing for Christ. Whatever would happen to him, he wants to glorify Christ with his body. Most of all, however, he wants to be with Christ and hopes for Christ’s return.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”955465″]<\/p>\n

Justification<\/h3>\n

Paul writes to the Philippians that he has a foreknowledge and confidence of glorifying Christ through his body, “whether by life or death.”<\/em><\/p>\n

This is the context, so to speak, the beginning of the context. Let’s read carefully what is at stake here. For, he says, “to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”<\/em> (Phil 1:19-21). What does he mean by that?<\/p>\n