⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, ^(A)whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope ^(A)that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full ^(B)courage now as always Christ ^(C)will be honored in my body, ^(D)whether by life or by death.

^10 (A)who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

²³ But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then ^(A)at his coming ^(B)those who belong to Christ.

¹³ Then Paul answered, ^(A)“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For ^(B)I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem ^(C)for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: ^(A)Blessed are the dead ^(B)who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, ^(C)“that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

¹⁷ Even if I am to be ^(A)poured out as a drink offering upon ^(B)the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

²⁴ But ^(A)I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only ^(B)I may finish my course and ^(C)the ministry ^(D)that I received from the Lord Jesus, ^(E)to testify to ^(F)the gospel of ^(G)the grace of God.

¹⁴ For ^(A)since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him ^(B)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you ^(C)by a word from the Lord,^[a] that ^(D)we who are alive, who are left until ^(E)the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For ^(F)the Lord himself will descend ^(G)from heaven ^(H)with a cry of command, with the voice of ^(I)an archangel, and ^(J)with the sound of the trumpet of God. And ^(K)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be ^(L)caught up together with them ^(M)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so ^(N)we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.