< Philippians 2 >

1 So then, if you're encouraged by being in Christ, if you're comforted by his love, if you share together in the Spirit, if you have compassion and sympathy—
If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 then make my joy complete by thinking the same way and loving the same way, spiritually united and having one purpose.
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.
3 Don't do anything from a spirit of selfishness or pride, but humbly think of others better than you do of yourself.
[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 None of you should be preoccupied about your own things—instead concern yourself with the interests of others too.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 The attitude you should have is the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Though in his nature he was always God, he wasn't concerned to cling on to his equality with God.
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 Instead he emptied himself, taking the nature of a servant, becoming like a human being.
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 Coming in human form, humbling himself, he submitted himself to death—even death on a cross.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 That's why God placed him in the position of greatest honor and power, and gave him the most prestigious name—
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 so that in the name of Jesus everyone should bow in respect, whether in heaven or on earth or under the earth,
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
11 and all will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 So, my good friends, continue to work towards the goal of salvation with complete reverence and respect for God, following what you were told—not just when I was with you, but even more so now I'm away from you.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it's God who is working within you, creating the will and the ability to do what he wants you to do.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 so that you'll be sincere, innocent of any wrong. Be God's blameless children living in the middle of a dishonest and corrupt people. Shine among them as lights to the world,
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 holding out to them the word of life. That way I'll have something to be proud of when Christ returns, proving I didn't run around and work for nothing!
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 So even if I pour out my life as a sacrifice and offering so you may trust in God, I'm happy for it, and I'm glad together with all of you,
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 just as you have such joy and are glad with me.
For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
19 I'm hoping, if that's what the Lord Jesus wants, to send Timothy to you soon. It will cheer me up once I know how you're doing.
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 I don't know anyone who genuinely cares about you as he does.
For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 Other people only worry about their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
22 But you already know what he's like—just as a child working to help his father, so he's worked with me to spread the good news.
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see how I'm doing,
Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I'll be able to come too.
But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
25 But I thought it was important to send Epaphroditus to you. He's a brother to me, a co-worker and fellow-soldier. He's the one you sent to look after me,
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
26 and he's been longing to see all of you, worried about you because you'd heard he was sick.
For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
27 He certainly was sick—he nearly died—but God had mercy on him. Not just on him, but on me too, so that I wouldn't have tragedy upon tragedy.
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 That's why I'm so keen to send him, so that when you see him you'll be happy, and I won't have to be so anxious.
I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
29 So welcome him with much happiness in the Lord—honor people like him,
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
30 because in working for Christ he nearly died, putting his life on the line to make up for the help you weren't in a position to give me.
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

< Philippians 2 >