Matthew Poole and continuators on Philippians 1:21

21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain .

Some reade it. For Christ is my gain in Life and in Death. Or, For Christ is to me both in Life and in Death advantage. Both acknowledge it to be brought in, as a reason of Paul's hope in Life and Death; and of his indifferency in submission to God's pleasure in Life and Death, intimating 'twas all one to him, so Christ was magnified in his body, whether it were by Life or by Death. They who follow our Translation, do expound the proposition disjunctively. The former referring to the honour of Christ, and the latter to the Salvation of Paul, which is understood by the name of gain. Some understand the former branch efficiently, q. d. I derive my self from Christ, unto whom I am united, he being the principle of it, as Gal. 2.26. but others rather objectively and finally, q. d. as I have hitherto made it the business of life to serve Christ in Preaching his Gospel, so if he continues my Life, I purpose that in my living body, by Preaching his Gospel, and suffering for his Name, as he requireth, He shall be glorified. Then for the latter branch if I dye, in bearing Testimony to Christ, 'twill be gain to my self, in that I shall be with Christ which is better for me, v. 23. being present with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.8. in whom my life is hid, Col. 3.3. So that death would not empoverish, but enrich him. They who chuse the latter reading, take the proposition conjunctively, to the sense that he accounted gain to him, to have the honour of Christ magnified in his Body, whether it happened to him to live or die, sith he faithfully serv'd him living or dying, and own'd himself to be his both ways, Rom. 14.8. He was not (as he saith elsewhere) Act. 20.24. mov'd with accidentalls; neither counted he his Life dear to him to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God; reckoning he had no Life, but from Christ; whom he made it his business to serve and enjoy, so that if he continued in the Body, Christ would gain in that he design'd to spend his Life, for the Edification of his Church; and if he died in that cause, Christ would gain by his Death, in that his truth would by the Blood of him, who was a Martyr, be further seald, and his interest promoted, and his Glory advanced, and he himself would gain sith upon his departure, he should be advanc'd to be with Christ, v. 23. who alone makes his faithfull Servants happy in Life and Death.