If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus as a mere man, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

我若当日像寻常人，在以弗所同野兽战斗，那于我有什么益处呢？若死人不复活，我们就吃吃喝喝吧！因为明天要死了。

从人的观点看来，我当日在以弗所同野兽搏斗，对我有什么益处呢？如果死人没有复活，“让我们吃吃喝喝吧！因为明天要死了。”

从人的观点看来，我当日在以弗所同野兽搏斗，对我有什么益处呢？如果死人没有复活，“让我们吃吃喝喝吧！因为明天要死了。”

从人的角度看，我在以弗所与那些“恶兽”格斗对我有什么益处呢？如果死人不会复活，“让我们吃喝吧！因为明天我们就死了。”

我在以弗所和野兽搏斗，如果照着人的意思来看，那对我有什么益处呢？如果死人不会复活，“我们就吃吃喝喝吧，因为我们明天就要死了。”

我在以弗所与野兽搏斗，如果按人的意思来说，对我有什么好处呢？如果死人不会复活，就“让我们吃吃喝喝吧，因为明天我们就要死了。”

我若當日像尋常人，在以弗所同野獸戰鬥，那於我有甚麼益處呢？若死人不復活，我們就吃吃喝喝吧！因為明天要死了。

從人的觀點看來，我當日在以弗所同野獸搏鬥，對我有甚麼益處呢？如果死人沒有復活，「讓我們吃吃喝喝吧！因為明天要死了。」

從人的觀點看來，我當日在以弗所同野獸搏鬥，對我有甚麼益處呢？如果死人沒有復活，「讓我們吃吃喝喝吧！因為明天要死了。」

從人的角度看，我在以弗所與那些「惡獸」格鬥對我有什麼益處呢？如果死人不會復活，「讓我們吃喝吧！因為明天我們就死了。」

我在以弗所和野獸搏鬥，如果照著人的意思來看，那對我有甚麼益處呢？如果死人不會復活，“我們就吃吃喝喝吧，因為我們明天就要死了。”

若按人的說法，我當日在以弗所跟野獸格鬥，那於我又有甚麼益處呢？死人如果不能得甦活起來，那『我們喫喫喝喝吧，因為明天就死了！』

我在以弗所與野獸搏鬥，如果按人的意思來說，對我有什麼好處呢？如果死人不會復活，就「讓我們吃吃喝喝吧，因為明天我們就要死了。」

昔我於以弗所、若效常人鬥獸、有何益哉、若死者不見起、毋寧式飲式食、蓋明日死矣、

始我在以弗所、甘受鬥獸之濫刑、若無復生、斯何益哉、寧圖飲食、明日死至矣、

昔我在以弗所、與獸鬥、若僅似常人、有何益哉、

曩在伊弗所、予曾與猛獸格鬥矣；若依人之常情而論、我亦何樂而為此？若死者無復活、則『人生有酒須當醉、明日死來萬事休；』

If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,“ Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Did I fight wild animals in Ephesus with nothing more than human hopes? Then what have I gotten for it? If the dead are not raised,“ Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die.”( Isaiah 22:13)

What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised,“ Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

And what value was there in fighting wild beasts— those people of Ephesus— if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection,“ Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise,“ Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to- morrow we die.

If I fought wild animals in Ephesus with only human hope, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then“ let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

But look: joy and gladness, butchering of cattle, slaughtering of sheep and goats, eating of meat, and drinking of wine—“ Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

Then I’ll say to myself,“ You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’

“ Come, let me get some wine, let’s guzzle some beer; and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

You have said,“ It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Armies?So now we consider the arrogant to be fortunate. Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God and escape.”

When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews.

We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction that took place in Asia. We were completely overwhelmed— beyond our strength— so that we even despaired of life itself.Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and he will deliver us. We have put our hope in him that he will deliver us again

But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct— like irrational animals— by these things they are destroyed.

For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself?

Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples

There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,

About that time there was a major disturbance about the Way.For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen.When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said,“ Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business.You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods.Not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin— the very one all of Asia and the world worship.”When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out,“ Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.Although Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him.Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture into the amphitheater.Some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.Some Jews in the crowd gave instructions to Alexander after they pushed him to the front. Motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people.But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours,“ Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”When the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said,“ People of Ephesus! What person is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven?Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash.For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our goddess.So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.But if you seek anything further, it must be decided in a legal assembly.In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disturbance.”After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.

Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?

For you ask,“ What does it profit you, and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin?”

But these people, like irrational animals— creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed— slander what they do not understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed.

I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.

Rejoice, young person, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desire of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.