4:1 So then, my brothers and sisters, 5 dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!
1 tn Or “salvation.” Deliverance from prison (i.e., release) is probably what Paul has in view here, although some take this as a reference to his ultimate release from the body, i.e., dying and being with Christ (v. 23).
2 tn Grk “flesh.”
3 tn Grk “fruit of work”; the genitive ἔργου (ergou) is taken as an attributed genitive in which the head noun, καρπός (karpos), functions attributively (cf. ExSyn 89-91).
4 tn Grk “what I shall prefer.” The Greek verb αἱρέω (Jairew) could also mean “choose,” but in this context such a translation is problematic for it suggests that Paul could perhaps choose suicide (cf. L&N 30.86).
3 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.