Tony, a pastor, writes in to ask this. "Pastor John, I have heard you use Philippians 1 as a text showing evidence for Christian hedonism, but in reading it recently, I felt I could see a reason for denying Christian hedonism in it as well. In verse 23, Paul says, "It is far better to be with Christ in death, and yet He remains in the flesh to minister to the Philippians because it is more necessary on your account," he writes.

Wouldn't it seem here that if Paul chooses a lesser joy, staying on earth, to love others, it would deny that the path of loving others is also the pursuit of our highest joy in God? What do you say to Tony? That's a really sharp question. Let me read the text to make sure we can see.

It's a good question, and it caused me to think hard, and I thank Tony for it. Philippians 1 21, following, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me." So the contrast is between my gain and fruitful labor.

"Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard-pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account." So the contrast is between far better right now for Paul in heaven versus more needed for the Philippians faith.

Verse 25, "Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus because of my coming to you again." Now Tony asks, "Wouldn't it seem here that Paul chooses a lesser joy, staying on the earth, in order to love others, which would deny then, if he did that, would deny that the path of loving others is a pursuit of his highest joy in God?

And if that's true, then he's saying Christian hedonism principles don't hold. So that's very, very good, good question. Here's my answer. Paul did not say staying on earth is a lesser joy in the long run. And if you asked him, "Do you think that staying on earth and serving the faith and the joy of the Philippians would bring you even greater joy with Christ in the age to come?" I think he would say, "Yes," because he says in verse 26 that he's laboring for their faith so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ.

In other words, he shares in that glory because of working for them. His work for them is self-denial in one sense, but it is a participation in another sense. So that's why I think he says in Philippians 2 17, "Even if I am poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all." So in Paul's mind, his staying on the earth and serving the joy and faith of the Philippians is a compounding of his joy in Christ in the long run.

So then the question remains, well, was he not talking then like a Christian hedonist when he said in verse 21 that death would be gained? And in verse 23 that he desires to depart and be with Christ. If staying here and serving the church is compounding his long-term joy, is he then choosing a lesser joy in wanting to go to heaven?

And I think the answer is that Paul was not measuring his presence with Christ now against presence with him later after more years of ministry. Rather, he was measuring his presence with Christ now against sitting in jail in Rome. And he's saying that would be far better than sitting here in jail in Rome.

He wasn't thinking in terms of contrasting. Well, what I'm really choosing between is I'd rather go to heaven now and be with Christ than to have in ten years from now multiple joys in heaven with Christ because of all these people that are going to be built up in their faith.

I don't think he was he was thinking that way. So two different possibilities were in his mind. Going to be with Christ is best right now, measured against long-term responsibilities. Staying to advance the faith of the Philippians is best for them. That's how I, at the present anyway, work out the issue and think Paul is acting like a consistent Christian hedonist.

Thank you, Pastor John, and thank you, Pastor Tony, for the great question. Please keep sending us those kinds of questions. Those are great. So what is this thing we call Christian hedonism? We have a little four-minute video to explain it. You can go to DesiringGod.org and click on the tab at the top of the page that says "About" and there you'll find a little video to explain Christian hedonism, which explains what we're all about at Desiring God.

I'm your host Tony Reinke. We'll see you tomorrow. you you you