the latter from divine love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel:

But I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; for this is far better:

in order that you may be blameless and pure, the children of God, irreproachable, amid a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

But if indeed I am poured out for a sacrifice and an offering for your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice along with you all;

Yes truly, I even counted all things loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I suffer the loss of all things, and I consider them but excrements, that I may gain Christ,

For many walk about, of whom I frequently spoke to you, and now I speak even weeping, the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Not that I speak concerning deficiency: for I have learned to be content with those things amid which I am.

But I have all things, and I abound: I am full, having received from Epaphroditus those things from you, an odor of a sweet savor, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.