Philippians 2

1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship from the Spirit, if any tenderness and acts of compassion,

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 make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

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 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard one another as being better than yourselves.

Nothing should be done in a factious spirit or from vanity, but each of you should with all humility regard others as of more account than himself,

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own concerns, but also for what concerns others.

and one and all should consider, not only their own interests, but also the interests of others.

5 In fact, let this mindset be in you that was also in Christ Jesus,

Let the spirit of Christ Jesus be yours also.

6 who, existing in God's form, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

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

7 but divested Himself, taking a slave's form, coming to be in the likeness of men.

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

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross!

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

9 Indeed, that is why God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,

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

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—of those in heaven, those on earth and those 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 every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Sovereign, to the glory of God the Father.

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

12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed (not only in my presence but now much more in my absence), keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

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 because God Himself is the One at work in you, both to will and to produce, for His good pleasure.

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

14 Do all things without grumbling or arguing,

In all that you do, avoid murmuring and dissension,

15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation, among whom you shine as light bearers 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 fast the Word of Life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I did not run in vain nor labor for nothing.

offering to men the Message of Life; and then I shall be able at the Day of Christ to boast that I did not run my course for nothing, or toil for nothing.

17 Yes, even if I am a libation being poured on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

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

18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

and do you also rejoice and share my joy.

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be encouraged when I know how you are doing.

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 one else like-minded, who will be genuinely concerned about your welfare

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 their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus).

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

22 But you know the proof of him, that as a son with his father he slaved with me for 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 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how things go with me.

It is Timothy, then, whom I hope to send, as soon as ever I can foresee how it will go with me.

24 Still, I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

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

25 However, I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier; also your messenger and minister to my need;

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

26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because 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 Well, he really was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, that I might not 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, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 So I sent him the more eagerly, that upon seeing him you might have joy, and I be less anxious.

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 in Sovereign with great joy, and hold such men in honor,

Give him, then, the heartiest of Christian welcomes, and hold such men in great honour.

30 because for the work of the Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to complete what was lacking in your service toward me.

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.