Philippians · Chapter 1 · Life
Philippians 1:21 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
KJV · King James Version
"For1063 to me1698 to live2198 is Christ5547, and2532 to die599 is gain2771."
In context
Philippians 1:21 in Philippians 1
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Philippians 1:21 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Philippians 1. Read the full chapter →
- v.19 For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
- v.20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.
- v.21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
- v.22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.
- v.23 But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Book background
About the Book of Philippians
- Testament
- New Testament
- Genre
- Pauline epistle
- Author
- Paul
- Date written
- c. 61–62 AD
- Audience
- The church at Philippi — Paul's most affectionate relationship
- Chapters
- 4
Philippians is Paul's joy-saturated thank-you letter from prison. It contains the great Christ-hymn (2:5-11) describing his self-emptying and exaltation, the call to rejoice always (4:4), the secret of contentment "in any and every situation" (4:11-13), and the assurance that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" (1:6).
Setting: Written from Roman imprisonment.
Key themes: joy · humility · partnership · contentment · Christ
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Philippians 1:21
Philippians 1:21 contains 12 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
For to me to live is Christ
FTMTLI
- 2
and to die is gain.
ATDIG
Frequently asked
FAQ about Philippians 1:21
What does Philippians 1:21 say?
Philippians 1:21 reads: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." — from the New Testament, Philippians (Pauline epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Philippians 1:21 in?
Philippians 1:21 is in the book of Philippians, traditionally attributed to Paul and written around c. 61–62 AD. Philippians is pauline epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to The church at Philippi — Paul's most affectionate relationship. Best known for "I can do all things through Christ" and the Christ-hymn (2:5-11).
What is Philippians 1:21 about?
Philippians 1:21 is primarily a Bible verse about Life. Within Philippians, Philippians is Paul's joy-saturated thank-you letter from prison. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Philippians 1:21 in WEB and KJV?
Philippians 1:21 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "For1063 to me1698 to live2198 is Christ5547, and2532 to die599 is gain2771.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Philippians 1:21?
Philippians 1:21 is 12 words in the WEB translation (48 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 4 seconds.
How can I memorise Philippians 1:21?
To memorise Philippians 1:21, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Philippians 1:21 matter in Philippians?
Philippians is Paul's joy-saturated thank-you letter from prison. It contains the great Christ-hymn (2:5-11) describing his self-emptying and exaltation, the call to rejoice always (4:4), the secret of contentment "in any and every situation" (4:11-13), and the assurance that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" (1:6). Philippians 1:21 sits within this larger story — Philippians as a whole emphasises joy, humility, partnership.
How can I apply Philippians 1:21 today?
Many readers use Philippians 1:21 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Philippians 1:21 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
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Ecclesiastes 3:1
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Genesis 1:27
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Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
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Philippians 4:6-7
“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which sur…”
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Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”
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Philippians 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!””
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