Once again Paul is in prison. This time, he seems to feel that he will not be released, that he might die in prison. He is thus caught in a dilemma and needs to discern what is best to do. He longs to leave this world and to be with Christ in the resurrection. That is by far the better thing. But there is a more urgent call upon him, namely that he should continue to live and to serve his community - "for your sakes". The better thing and the more urgent thing are not necessarily the same.

The better thing would be a personal gain for Paul. But it is the community's needs that call forth the more urgent thing. Paul is an Apostle and so he is concerned for his community. If he only looked to himself, he would of course pray that God would now let him die in prison and attain the grace of the resurrection. His Apostolic care wins out over his own personal desires. Sooner or later he will certainly die and attain to that "far better thing". But care for the community is more urgent, and this urgency persuades Paul's heart. His example teaches us a great deal about the spirit of discernment.