ANALUSAI and Philippians 1:23

Ralph Wilson: Philippians 1:22 in their translation reads "what I do desire is the releasing and the being with Christ," rather than "I desire to depart and be with Christ." Their strange, awkward rendering is intended to support a belief in "soul sleep," since this verse in its true form tells believers that they will be with Christ in heaven the very moment they die.

Reply: I think you are referring to verse 23 and the word ANALUSAI. The Liddell Scott Greek Lexicon has as one of it's renderings into English, "releasing." Liddell Scott, page 112, Section I.2 gives this as a meaning of analusai. [LJS9 I.2 "releasing", Gr., analy'sai; Lat., dissol'vi]

A careful reading of the Nestle Aland Greek text shows an interesting marginal note for Philippians 1:23. There is also a cross-reference from 1Thessalonians 4:17 pointing back to Philippians 1:23. SUNEXOMAI DE EK TWN DUO THN EPIQUMIAN EXWN EIS TO ANALUSAI KAI [1Th 4,17 SUN XRISTW EINAI] POLLW GAR MALLON KREISSON (NA27) 1Th 4,17! EPEITA HMEIS OI ZWNTES OI PERILEIPOMENOI AMA SUN AUTOIS ARPAGHSOMEQA EN NEFELAIS EIS APANTHSIN TOU KURIOU EIS AERA KAI OUTWS PANTOTE [Ph 1,23! SUN KURIW ESOMEQA] (GRK) The context of 1Thessalonians clearly points to the "being with" the Lord Christ Jesus to the future parousia of Christ, at the resurrection.

Greek Professor Gerald Hawthorne has this to say: "Interestingly, Paul now refrains from boldly saying, "I desire to die" (APOQNHSKEIN), preferring rather to use a euphemism (ANALUSAI) for death" (Word Commentary Vol. 43, P. 48). He adds that ANALUSAI can refer to "a ship 'being released from its mooring,' 'weighing anchor' and sailing off." (Ibid.)

Vine's explains ANALUO as "to unloose, undo", and he explains it metaphorically as "...the unyoking of baggage animals".

The Revised New Jerusalem Bible also uses the word "released" here, as does Lyman Booth in his "The Mystery Of Iniquity Explained."

I think the New World Translation Bible has handled this verse quite marvelously, proving itself once more to be a valuable asset to any Bible library.