¹⁹ for I know that ^(A)through your prayers and ^(B)the help of ^(C)the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope ^(D)that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full ^(E)courage now as always Christ ^(F)will be honored in my body, ^(G)whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me ^(H)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ^23 (I)I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is ^(J)to depart and ^(K)be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ^25 (L)Convinced of this, ^(M)I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your ^(N)progress and ^(O)joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that in me ^(P)you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only ^(Q)let your manner of life be ^(R)worthy^[a] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you ^(S)that you are standing firm in one spirit, with ^(T)one mind ^(U)striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is ^(V)a clear sign to them of their destruction, but ^(W)of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For ^(X)it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also ^(Y)suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same ^(Z)conflict that ^(AA)you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Mystery and Victory

⁵⁰ I tell you this, brothers: ^(A)flesh and blood ^(B)cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold! I tell you a mystery. ^(C)We shall not all sleep, ^(D)but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For ^(E)the trumpet will sound, and ^(F)the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and ^(G)this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and ^(J)the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, ^(K)who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^58 (L)Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in ^(M)the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord ^(N)your labor is not in vain.