1:21 因為對我來說，我活著，是為基督；死了，更有收穫！
1:22 可是，如果我活著能夠多做些有益的工作，那我就不曉得該怎樣選擇了。
1:23 我處在兩難之間。我很願意離開這世界，去跟基督在一起，那是再好沒有了。
1:24 可是，為了你們的緣故，我更該活下去。
1:25 對這一點，我深信無疑；我知道我還要活下去，而且要繼續跟你們大家在一起，幫助你們在信仰上更長進，更有喜樂，
1:26 目的是我跟你們再見面的時候，你們在基督耶穌裏將更加以我為榮！
1:27 最重要的是：你們的生活應該符合基督福音的要求。這樣，無論我能不能親自來看你們，我都會知道你們抱著共同的目標，堅定不移，同心協力為福音的信仰爭戰。
1:28 在任何事上都不受反對你們的人的恐嚇；要勇敢，以此向他們證明，他們一定滅亡，而你們一定得救，因為這是上帝的作為。
1:29 你們得到特權來事奉基督，不只是信他，也要為他受苦。
1:30 現在，你們可以跟我並肩作戰；這仗，你們看見我打過，你們一定聽見，我仍然在從事同樣的戰鬥。
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[a] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
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保羅在此告訴我們基督徒的生死觀與受苦觀，然而這一切的基礎都是由與基督的關係以及與其他弟兄姐妹之關係而來。
這兩重關係之調合為：保羅為了引導弟兄姊妹在基督裡有更深的認識（與上帝有美好的關係），情願和弟兄姊妹在這地上受苦，雖然天上與主同在是美的無比。
這也是為甚麼基督徒，寧可與廣大受苦的民眾在一起，也不願意享受可以得著之榮華富貴，為的是要讓人更認識基督。
而為我們死在十字架上的耶穌基督更是如此，祂本與父上帝同等，卻願成為卑微的人，卑微到成為罪人的贖罪祭，這是何等的愛！
我們的主都如此了，我們豈可以例外呢？
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