2
1 If
therefore there is
any exhortation in
Christ, if any
consolation of love,
if any fellowship
of the Spirit,
if any tender
mercies and
compassion,
2 make
my joy full
by being like-minded,
having the same love,
being of one
accord, of one
mind;
3 doing nothing
through rivalry or
through conceit,
but in humility,
each counting others
better than
himself;
4 each
of you not
just looking to
his own things,
but each of
you also to
the things of
others.
5 Have
this in your
mind, which was
also in Christ
Jesus,
6 who, existing
in the form
of God, didn’t
consider equality
with God a
thing to
be grasped,
7 but
emptied himself,
taking the form
of a servant,
being made in
the likeness of
men.
8 And
being found
in human form, he
humbled himself,
becoming obedient
to the point
of death, yes,
the death of
the cross.
9 Therefore
God also highly
exalted him, and
gave to him
the name which
is above every
name,
10 that
at the name
of Jesus every
knee should bow,
of those in
heaven, those on
earth, and those
under the earth,
11 and
that every tongue
should confess
that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to
the glory of
God the Father.
12 So
then, my beloved,
even as you
have always obeyed,
not only in
my presence, but
now much more
in my absence,
work out your
own salvation with
fear and trembling.
13 For
it is God
who works in
you both to
will and to
work for his
good pleasure.
14 Do
all things without
complaining and
arguing,
15 that
you may
become blameless and harmless,
children of God
without defect in
the middle of
a crooked and
perverse generation,
among whom you
are seen as
lights in the
world,
16 holding
up the word
of life, that
I may have
something to boast
in the day
of Christ that
I didn’t run in
vain nor labor
in vain.
17 Yes, and
if I am
poured out on
the sacrifice and
service of your
faith, I am
glad and rejoice
with you all.
18 In
the same way, you
also should be
glad and rejoice
with me.
19 But
I hope in
the Lord Jesus
to send Timothy
to you soon,
that I also
may be cheered up
when I know
how you are doing.
20 For
I have no
one else like-minded, who
will truly care
about you.
21 For
they all seek
their own, not
the things of
Jesus Christ.
22 But
you know that
he has proved
himself. As a
child serves a
father, so he
served with me
in furtherance of
the Good News.
23 Therefore
I hope to
send him at
once, as soon
as I see how
it will go with
me.
24 But
I trust in
the Lord that
I myself also will
come shortly.
25 But
I thought it
necessary to send
to you
Epaphroditus, my brother,
fellow worker,
fellow soldier,
and your apostle
and servant of
my need,
26 since
he longed for
you all, and
was very troubled
because you
had heard that he
was sick.
27 For
indeed he was sick
nearly to death,
but God had
mercy on him,
and not on
him only, but
on me also,
that I might
not have sorrow
on sorrow.
28 I
have sent him
therefore the more
diligently, that
when you see
him again, you
may rejoice, and
that I may
be the less sorrowful.
29 Receive
him therefore in
the Lord with
all joy, and
hold such people
in honor,
30 because
for the work
of Christ he
came near to
death, risking his
life to supply
that which was
lacking in your
service toward me.