Philippians 2

1 If there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any comfort from his love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if there are any tender mercies and compassions,

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,

2 then make my joy full by thinking alike, having the same love, being united in spirit, and having the same purpose.

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

3 Do nothing out of selfishness or empty conceit. Instead with humility consider others better than yourselves.

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

4 Each of you should take care not only for your own needs, but also for the needs of others.

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

5 You should have the same attitude toward one another as was in Christ Jesus.

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

6 He existed in the form of God, but he did not consider his equality with God as something to hold on to.

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

7 Instead, he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, and he was born in the likeness of men.

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

8 He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of a cross!

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

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him. He gave him the name that is above every name.

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

10 He did this so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend, the knees of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—of those in heaven, those on earth and those under the earth—

11 He did this so that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

and every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Sovereign, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, as you always obey, not only in my presence but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

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,

13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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

14 Do all things without complaining or arguing.

Do all things without grumbling or arguing,

15 Act in this way so that you may become blameless and honest, children of God without blemish. Act in this way so that you may shine as lights in the world, in the middle of a crooked and depraved generation.

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,

16 Hold tightly to the word of life so that I may have reason to glory on the day of Christ. For then I will know that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

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.

17 But even if I am being poured out as an offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

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.

18 In the same manner you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

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

19 But I have hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may also be encouraged when I know the things about you.

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.

20 For I have no one else with his same attitude, who is truly anxious for you.

For I have no one else like-minded, who will be genuinely concerned about your welfare

21 For they all seek their own interests, not the things of Jesus Christ.

(for all seek their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus).

22 But you know his worth, because as a child serves his father, so he served with me in the gospel.

But you know the proof of him, that as a son with his father he slaved with me for the Gospel.

23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things will go with me.

Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how things go with me.

24 But I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.

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

25 But I think it is necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and servant for my needs.

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;

26 For he was very distressed, and he longed to be with you all, because you heard that he was sick.

since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.

27 For indeed he was so sick that he almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but also on me, so that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

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.

28 So it is all the more eagerly that I am sending him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I can be free from anxiety.

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

29 Welcome Epaphroditus in the Lord with all joy. Honor people like him.

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

30 For it was for the work of Christ that he came near death. He risked his life to serve me and fill up what you could not do in service to me.

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.