St Paul generally gives us a strong impression of certainty and confidence. He always seems so sure of himself, his doctrine, his activity, his decisions. But there was another side to his character, and we are blessed to have his Letter to the Philippians, for this letter shows us a more human, affectionate, hesitant Paul.

"Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or by my death." This affirmation is not a theoretical piece of doctrine, but an urgent concern of Paul, for he seems to be facing death. As he faces up to the fact that death is coming closer, he does so with the fullness of Christian faith. Yet he is hesitant: "I do not know what I should choose." Faced with a choice of our own life or death, most of us would unthinkingly opt for life. But as Christians, we can frequently and with profit meditate on the great blessing which death is. Only faith, the kind of faith which Paul had, can teach us that death can be a way of giving glory to God.