But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
The speaker is the minister sent to preach Christ and Him crucified to the Gentiles, weighed down with responsibilities. To live in the flesh is to remain alive to continue fruitful labor. He is in a strait betwixt two, caught between two desires over life and death, not knowing whether he would rather die or live and what he should choose. The choice before him is whether for the good of others to abide in the flesh or to give up the conflict. He feels that dying sooner would be better, yet he hopes to speak to the people once more, leaving it to the Lord whether that opportunity comes.
The speaker is the minister sent to preach Christ and Him crucified to the Gentiles, weighed down with responsibilities. To live in the flesh is to remain alive to continue fruitful labor. He is in a strait betwixt two, caught between two desires over life and death, not knowing whether he would rather die or live and what he should choose. The choice before him is whether for the good of others to abide in the flesh or to give up the conflict. He feels that dying sooner would be better, yet he hopes to speak to the people once more, leaving it to the Lord whether that opportunity comes.