Philippians 2

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration:

If, then, any encouragement comes through union with Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if there is any communion with the Spirit, if there is any tenderness or pity,

2 Fulfill ye my joy, that you may be of one mind, having the same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment.

I entreat you to make my happiness complete – live together animated by the same spirit and in mutual love, one in heart, animated by one Spirit.

3 Let nothing be done through contention, neither by vain glory: but in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:

Nothing should be done out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility lift others up above yourselves,

4 Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men’s.

considering not only your own interests but also the interests of others.

5 For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Let the spirit of Christ Jesus be yours also.

6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Though the divine nature was his from the beginning, yet he did not look on equality with God as above all things to be clung to,

7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man.

but impoverished himself by taking the nature of a servant and becoming like one of us;

8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.

he appeared among us as a man, and still further humbled himself by submitting even to death – to death on a cross!

9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names:

And that is why God raised him to the very highest place, and gave him the name which stands above all other names,

10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:

so that in adoration of the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth,

11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

and that every tongue should acknowledge JESUS CHRIST as LORD – to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence, ) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always been obedient in the past, so now work out your own salvation with anxious care, not only when I am with you, but all the more now that I am absent.

13 For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will.

Remember it is God who, in his kindness, is at work within you, enabling you both to will and to work.

14 And do ye all things without murmurings and hesitations;

In all that you do, avoid murmuring and dissension,

15 That you may be blameless, and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom you shine as lights in the world.

so as to prove yourselves blameless and innocent – faultless children of God, in the midst of an evil-disposed and perverse generation, in which you are seen shining like stars in a dark world,

16 Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ, because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.

offering to them the message of life; and then I will be able at the day of Christ to boast that I did not run my course for nothing, or toil for nothing.

17 Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and congratulate with you all.

And yet, even if, when your faith is offered as a sacrifice to God, my lifeblood must be poured out in addition, still I will rejoice and share the joy of you all;

18 And for the selfsame thing do you also rejoice, and congratulate with me.

and you must also rejoice and share my joy.

19 And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy unto you shortly, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know the things concerning you.

I hope, however, as one who trusts in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may myself be cheered by receiving news of you.

20 For I have no man so of the same mind, who with sincere affection is solicitous for you.

For I have no one but him to send – no one of kindred spirit who would take the same genuine interest in your welfare.

21 For all seek the things that are their own; not the things that are Jesus Christ’s.

They are all pursuing their own aims and not those of Christ Jesus.

22 Now know ye the proof of him, that as a son with the father, so hath he served with me in the gospel.

But you know what Timothy has proved himself to be, and how, like a child working for his father, he worked hard with me in spreading the good news.

23 Him therefore I hope to send unto you immediately, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

It is Timothy, then, whom I hope to send, just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.

24 And I trust in the Lord, that I myself also shall come to you shortly.

And I am confident, as one who trusts in the Lord Jesus, that before long I myself will follow.

25 But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow labourer, and fellow soldier, but your apostle, and he that hath ministered to my wants.

Still I think it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you now, for he is my dear friend, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, and he was also your messenger to help me in my need.

26 For indeed he longed after you all: and was sad, for that you had heard that he was sick.

For he has been longing to see you all, and has been distressed because you heard of his illness.

27 For indeed he was sick, nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him; and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

And I can assure you that his illness very nearly proved fatal. But God had pity on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.

28 Therefore I sent him the more speedily: that seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow.

I am all the more ready, therefore, to send him, so that the sight of him may revive your spirits and my own sorrow be lightened.

29 Receive him therefore with all joy in the Lord; and treat with honour such as he is.

Give him, then, the heartiest of Christian welcomes, and hold such people in great honor.

30 Because for the work of Christ he came to the point of death: delivering his life, that he might fulfill that which on your part was wanting towards my service.

For it was owing to his devotion to the Master’s work that he was at the point of death, having risked his own life in the effort to supply what was wanting in the help that you sent me.