Poetic language, concise and memorable. Startling in its core thought, a personal mission statement that is at once remarkable and at the same time not so unexpected from a man like Paul. He had given up everything that was important to him, all that he once held dear (his family pedigree, his standing in the Hebrew community, his academic successes and his prominence as an up and coming bright star among the religious elite), to become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, He did not lose it all as though it were taken from him; rather he gave it all up. More about this in chapter three of this letter.

Paul had discovered a better way of living, namely to live for Christ. He was all about the Lord of grace. He understood the words of Jesus, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). His old way of life was like the thief that stole the peace of God from people. But the new life was all about people finding life in Christ. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

So everything he did, every thought he had, every motivation that moved him, was all about Christ. His words were not superfluous when he wrote, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36). Or, “May it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). Life for Paul was Christ!

Death, that big non-negotiable of life, most people are resigned to—not Paul. Rather than resignation, it was anticipation for him. Now he was often, especially as he wrote this letter from prison, living with death close by. But rather than striking fear, it excited him, because death would bring gain for him. He would finally arrive at his reward (which he talks about in more depth in chapter 3). But more so, he would be with his Savior and Lord forever. No more suffering, beatings or various other kinds of hardships. The battle would be over and he would enter into eternity with the Master. All when he died.

His life was transformed and no difficulty on earth could take away the eternal life he had with Christ. Death could not hold sway over him, because that would be even better than life. Just as Satan tried to disparage Job, he also tried to deter Paul through his sufferings, to get him to abandon the cause of Christ. But Paul stayed the course—with a clear vision.