who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.

However you did well that you shared in my affliction.