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.

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 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.

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 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, there is outright celebration! You say,“ Kill the ox and slaughter the sheep, eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

And I will say to myself,“ You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’

Each one says,‘ Come on, I’ll get some wine! Let’s guzzle some beer! Tomorrow will be just like today! We’ll have everything we want!’

You have said,‘ It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD who rules over all?So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. In fact, those who challenge God escape!’”

When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila behind there, but he himself went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again,

But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend.

For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?

Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples there

There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

At that time a great disturbance took place concerning the Way.For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought a great deal of business to the craftsmen.He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said,“ Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business.And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd, not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia, by saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all.There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing, and she whom all the province of Asia and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”When they heard this they became enraged and began to shout,“ Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”The city was filled with the uproar, and the crowd rushed to the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, the disciples would not let him.Even some of the provincial authorities who were his friends sent a message to him, urging him not to venture into the theater.So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together.Some of the crowd concluded it was about Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. Alexander, gesturing with his hand, was wanting to make a defense before the public assembly.But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison,“ Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” for about two hours.After the city secretary quieted the crowd, he said,“ Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven?So because these facts are indisputable, you must keep quiet and not do anything reckless.For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against someone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there.But if you want anything in addition, it will have to be settled in a legal assembly.For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause we can give to explain this disorderly gathering.”After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

I concluded,“ Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.

But you say,‘ What will it profit you,’ and,‘ What do I gain by not sinning?’

But these men, like irrational animals– creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed– do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed,

( I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.