PAUL vs. HAMLET (PHILIPPIANS 1:20-26)

Probably the most famous lines in all of Shakespeare's writings are found in Hamlet's Soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 1. But we have grown so familiar with it that we sometimes don't consider what the indecisive Dane is really saying, and I would be willing to bet that most people have never considered at all the comparisons and contrasts with the decisive Paul's own musings in Philippians 1:20-26.

Hamlet begins by saying: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” What he is really doing at this point in the story is contemplating suicide. That is made clear when he talks about taking “arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing them end them” and “he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin [i.e. an instrument with a sharp point].” Some Bible commentators have seen an exact parallel in Philippians 1:22-23 where Paul is similarity weighing the pros and cons of living versus dying and says, “I do not know which I prefer.” Despite the obvious parallels, most scholars highly doubt that Paul is really contemplating suicide at this point in his life.

Hamlet then points out the reasons for wanting his life to come to an end. In life he must “suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,” “the whips and scorns of time,” “the oppressor's wrong,” “the proud man's contumely, etc.” What, in fact, is Hamlet complaining about? His main gripe is that he suspects that his uncle has killed his father in order to marry his mother. I will admit that it is certainly something to complain about. But consider Paul's life at the time of the writing of Philippians.

The background to the letter is that Paul was sitting in a Roman prison away from the many converts that he had made throughout the Mediterranean world and with every expectation that he would be executed at any time. In addition, as he got word from those various churches he had founded and ministered to, he found out that some of them were totally departing in their behavior from what he had taught them; others were falling for the false theologies of heretical teachers; and even the churches that remained steadfast in their faith were being pastored by those who were only doing it for gain and some of whom were belittling Paul's contributions (see Philippians 1:15-17). Paul does not see the world through rose-colored glasses but honestly labels his situation as suffering in 1:17 and 29, as does Hamlet.

The stark difference between the two men at this point is that Hamlet sees absolutely no upside to a continuing life of suffering at all, but only endless misery. Paul, on the other hand, does not dwell unduly on his plight in life in this Philippians passage. Instead, he enlarges upon the way his suffering has been used by God for good. It has “helped to spread the gospel” (1:12), which has “become known to the whole imperial guard and those imprisoned with me” (1:13), and prompted others to preach the gospel whether out of love for Paul or to cause Paul to suffer “(1:15-18). And finally, Paul knows that by staying alive he has the opportunity to continue to minister to his congregations (1:24).

They both also consider the alternative: death. Paul is equally excited about that prospect. For one thing, he will then receive his heavenly reward and dwell in God's presence forever (1:23). And in addition, his death may encourage other Christians to spread of the gospel even more (1:20b-21)

Hamlet begins by agreeing with Paul regarding the relative desirability of death over life, but for an entirely different reason. As he says, “To die – to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end the heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.” He views death as an escape only. But then he considers it even further and states, “To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there's the rub: for in that sleep of death, what dreams may come...must give us pause.” He elaborates on this concern a few lines later as “the dread of something after death.” Rather than having complete confidence in his salvation in the afterlife as does Paul, Hamlet has a sneaking suspicion that if there is any afterlife it may prove to be worse for him that his present life is.

So what do the two of them decide after weighing the options? Of course, although Paul says in 1:23 that he is “hard pressed between the two,” he knows that the choice is up to God, not him, and in addition he decides that he would prefer to remain alive so that he can continue to minister to others. With Hamlet it is an entirely different story since he is driven primarily by personal concern for himself rather than love of God and others. And so he concludes his speech by saying that the quandary he is in must simply lead to inaction. But Paul, the man of decision, is even further motivated to action for the cause of Christ whatever the personal consequences might be.