Philippians 2
1 If there be therfore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of loue, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercie,
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 my ioye, that ye be like minded, hauing the same loue, being of one accorde, and of one iudgement,
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 That nothing be done through contention or vaine glory, but that in meekenesse of minde euery man esteeme other better then himselfe.
Nothing should be done out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility lift others up above yourselves,
4 Looke not euery man on his owne things, but euery man also on the things of other men.
considering not only your own interests but also the interests of others.
5 Let the same minde be in you that was euen in Christ Iesus,
Let the spirit of Christ Jesus be yours also.
6 Who being in ye forme of God, thought it no robberie to be equall 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 he made himself of no reputation, and tooke on him ye forme of a seruant, and was made like vnto men, and was founde in shape as a man.
but impoverished himself by taking the nature of a servant and becoming like one of us;
8 He humbled himselfe, and became obedient vnto the death, euen the death of the Crosse.
he appeared among us as a man, and still further humbled himself by submitting even to death – to death on a cross!
9 Wherefore God hath also highly exalted him, and giuen him a Name aboue euery 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 That at the Name of Iesus shoulde euery knee bowe, both of things in heauen, and things in earth, and things vnder 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 euery tongue shoulde confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord, vnto 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 beloued, as ye haue alwayes obeyed me, not as in my presence only, but now much more in mine absence, so make an end of your owne saluation with feare 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 For it is God which worketh in you, both the will and the deede, euen of 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 murmuring and reasonings,
In all that you do, avoid murmuring and dissension,
15 That ye may be blamelesse, and pure, and the sonnes of God without rebuke in the middes of a naughtie and crooked nation, among whom yee 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 worde of life, that I may reioyce in the day of Christ, that I haue not runne in vaine, neither haue laboured in vaine.
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 though I bee offered vp vpon the sacrifice, and seruice of your faith, I am glad, and reioyce 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 For the same cause also be ye glad, and reioyce with me.
and you must also rejoice and share my joy.
19 And I trust in the Lord Iesus, to sende Timotheus shortly vnto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I knowe your state.
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 haue no man like minded, who will faithfully care for your matters.
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 seeke their owne, and not that which is Iesus Christes.
They are all pursuing their own aims and not those of Christ Jesus.
22 But yee knowe the proofe of him, that as a sonne with the father, hee hath serued 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 assoone as I knowe howe it will goe 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 trust in the Lord, that I also my selfe shall come shortly.
And I am confident, as one who trusts in the Lord Jesus, that before long I myself will follow.
25 But I supposed it necessarie to sende my brother Epaphroditus vnto you, my companion in labour, and fellowe souldier, euen your messenger, and he that ministred vnto me such things as I wanted.
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 he longed after all you, and was full of heauinesse, because yee had heard that hee had beene sicke.
For he has been longing to see you all, and has been distressed because you heard of his illness.
27 And no doubt he was sicke, very neere vnto death: but God had mercie on him, and not on him onely, but on me also, least I should haue sorowe vpon sorowe.
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 I sent him therefore the more diligently, that when yee shoulde see him againe, yee might reioyce, and I might be the lesse sorowfull.
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 Receiue him therefore in the Lord with all gladnesse, and make much of such:
Give him, then, the heartiest of Christian welcomes, and hold such people in great honour.
30 Because that for the woorke of Christ he was neere vnto death, and regarded not his life, to fulfill that seruice which was lacking on your part towarde 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.
