Philippians 2
1 If then there is any comfort in Christ, any help given by love, any uniting of hearts in the Spirit, any loving mercies and pity,
If therefore any exhortation is in Christ, if any encouragement of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in harmony and of one mind;
fulfill my joy, that ye may think the same way, having the same love, being knit in soul, thinking in oneness,
3 Doing nothing through envy or through pride, but with low thoughts of self let everyone take others to be better than himself;
in nothing according to selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility considering each other surpassing yourselves.
4 Not looking everyone to his private good, but keeping in mind the things of others.
Look ye out each man not to things of yourselves, but each man also to the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus,
Indeed have this way to think in you, that also was in Christ Jesus,
6 To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God;
who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God something to seize and hold.
7 But he made himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made like men;
But he emptied himself, having taken a form of a bondman, having become in a likeness of men.
8 And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross.
And having been found in a form like a man, he lowered himself, having become obedient until death, even of death from a cross.
9 For this reason God has put him in the highest place and has given to him the name which is greater than every name;
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name above every name,
10 So that at the name of Jesus every knee may be bent, of those in heaven and those on earth and those in the underworld,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of the heavenly, and the earthly, and the sub-earthly,
11 And that every tongue may give witness that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
and that every tongue should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 So then, my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you, give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts;
Therefore my beloved, just as ye have always obeyed, not only as 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 is the cause of your desires and of your acts, for his good pleasure.
For it is God who works in you both to desire and to work for approval.
14 Do all things without protests and arguments;
Do all things without grumblings and arguments,
15 So that you may be holy and gentle, children of God without sin in a twisted and foolish generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,
so that ye may become blameless and pure children of God, blameless in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
16 Offering the word of life; so that I may have glory in you in the day of Christ, because my running was not for nothing and my work was not without effect.
Holding firm the word of life, for a boast by me in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.
17 And even if I am offered like a drink offering, giving myself for the cause and work of your faith, I am glad and have joy with you all:
Yet even if I am poured out a libation upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
18 And in the same way do you be glad and have a part in my joy.
And in the same way, ye also be glad and rejoice with me.
19 But I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may be comforted when I have news of you.
But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be cheerful when I know the things about you.
20 For I have no man of like mind who will truly have care for you.
For I have no man like-minded who will genuinely care for the things about you.
21 For they all go after what is theirs, not after the things of Christ.
For they all seek the things of themselves, not the things of Christ Jesus.
22 But his quality is clear to you; how, as a child is to its father, so he was a help to me in the work of the good news.
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child to a father, he served with me for the good news.
23 Him then I am hoping to send as quickly as possible, when I am able to see how things will go for me:
Indeed therefore I hope to send this man immediately, whenever I may focus on the things concerning me.
24 But I have faith in the Lord that I myself will come before long.
And I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come soon.
25 But it seemed to me necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, who has taken part with me in the work and in the fight, and your servant, sent by you for help in my need;
But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and co-workman and fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,
26 Because his heart was with you all, and he was greatly troubled because you had news that he was ill:
since he was longing for you all, and distressed because ye heard that he was sick.
27 For in fact he was ill almost to death: but God had mercy on him; and not only on him but on me, so that I might not have grief on grief.
For also he was sick, near death, but God was merciful to him, and not only him, but also me, so that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 I have sent him, then, the more gladly, so that when you see him again, you may be happy and I may have the less sorrow.
Therefore I sent him more urgently, so that having seen him again, ye may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29 So take him to your hearts in the Lord with all joy, and give honour to such as he is:
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men esteemed.
30 Because for the work of Christ he was near to death, putting his life in danger to make your care for me complete.
Because for sake of the work of the Christ he came near the point of death, handing over his life so that he might fill up the deficiency of your service toward me.
