¹³ Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: ^(A)forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

^24 (A)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(B)I ^[a]do my share on behalf of ^(C)His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking ^[b]in Christ’s afflictions.

²⁴ But ^(A)I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may ^(B)finish my course and ^(C)the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to ^(D)testify solemnly of the gospel of ^(E)the grace of God.

To Live Is Christ

²¹ For to me, ^(A)to live is Christ and to die is gain. ^22 [a]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean ^(B)fruitful labor for me; and I do not know ^[b]which to choose. ²³ But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the ^(C)desire to depart and ^(D)be with Christ, for that is very much better; ²⁴ yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.