Philipper 2
1 Gibt es nun irgendwelche Ermahnung in Christus, gibt es Zuspruch der Liebe, gibt es Gemeinschaft des Geistes, gibt es Herzlichkeit und Erbarmen,
Since Christ encourages us, since he loves us and comforts us, since God’s Spirit fellowships with [us, and] since [Christ] is very merciful [DOU] to us,
2 so machet meine Freude völlig, indem ihr eines Sinnes seid, gleiche Liebe habet, einmütig und auf eines bedacht seid,
make me completely happy [by doing the following things]: Agree with one another, love one another, be closely united with one another, and [live] harmoniously with one another [DOU].
3 nichts tut aus Parteigeist oder eitler Ruhmsucht, sondern durch Demut einer den andern höher achtet als sich selbst,
Never try to selfishly make yourselves more important than [others] nor boast [about what you are doing]. Instead, be humble, [and in particular], honor one another more than you honor yourselves.
4 indem jeder nicht nur das Seine ins Auge faßt, sondern auch das des andern.
Each one of you should not [only] be concerned about your own affairs. Instead, each of you should also be concerned (that you help/about the needs of) one another.
5 Denn ihr sollt so gesinnt sein, wie Jesus Christus auch war,
You should think/act just like Christ Jesus [thought/acted].
6 welcher, da er sich in Gottes Gestalt befand, es nicht wie einen Raub festhielt, Gott gleich zu sein;
[Although] he has the same nature as God has, he did not insist on keeping all the privileges of being equal with God.
7 sondern sich selbst entäußerte, die Gestalt eines Knechtes annahm und den Menschen ähnlich wurde,
Instead, he [willingly] gave up divine privileges. [Specifically], he became a human being and took the attitude of a servant. When he had become a human being,
8 und in seiner äußern Erscheinung wie ein Mensch erfunden, sich selbst erniedrigte und gehorsam wurde bis zum Tod, ja bis zum Kreuzestod.
he humbled himself [even more. Specifically], he obeyed [God] even to the extent of [being willing to] die. [He was even willing to] be nailed to a cross, [to die as though he were a criminal].
9 Darum hat ihn auch Gott über alle Maßen erhöht und ihm den Namen geschenkt, der über allen Namen ist,
As a result, God promoted him [to a] rank [that] is above every [other] rank.
10 damit in dem Namen Jesu sich alle Knie derer beugen, die im Himmel und auf Erden und unter der Erde sind,
[God did that] in order that every being [SYN] in heaven and on earth and under the earth should worship [MTY] Jesus,
11 und alle Zungen bekennen, daß Jesus Christus der Herr sei, zur Ehre Gottes, des Vaters.
and in order that every person [SYN] should declare that Jesus Christ is Lord. [As a result of everyone doing that, they will] honor God, [his] Father.
12 Darum, meine Geliebten, wie ihr allezeit gehorsam gewesen seid, nicht allein in meiner Gegenwart, sondern jetzt noch vielmehr in meiner Abwesenheit, vollendet eure Rettung mit Furcht und Zittern;
My dear friends, as you consider this, since you have always obeyed [God], each of you should very reverentially [DOU] try to do those things [that are proper for people whom God has] saved. [You should do those things] not only when I am with you. [Instead, you should try] even more [to do them] now when I am not with you.
13 denn Gott ist es, der in euch sowohl das Wollen als auch das Vollbringen wirkt, nach Seinem Wohlgefallen.
[You are able to do these things], since God [himself] causes you to desire to do what he wants you to do, and he also enables you to do what he wants you to do.
14 Tut alles ohne Murren und Bedenken,
Do everything [God or your leaders ask you to do]. Never complain about what they want you to do, or argue with them.
15 damit ihr unsträflich seid und lauter, untadelige Gotteskinder, mitten unter einem verdrehten und verkehrten Geschlecht, unter welchem ihr scheinet als Lichter in der Welt,
Behave like that in order that you may be completely faultless [DOU] and may be perfect children of God [DOU] while you live in the midst of people who are wicked and do very wicked things [DOU]. As you live among them, show them clearly [MET] [the way they ought to behave], just like the sun, moon, and stars [show the road clearly to us] [SIM].
16 indem ihr das Wort des Lebens darbietet, mir zum Ruhm auf den Tag Christi, daß ich nicht vergeblich gelaufen bin, noch vergeblich gearbeitet habe.
Tell them how [to] have eternal life. I [ask that you do that] in order that on the day Christ [returns] I may be able to rejoice [MTY], that I did not labor [DOU] so hard among you in vain.
17 Sollte ich aber auch wie ein Trankopfer ausgegossen werden über dem Opfer und dem Gottesdienst eures Glaubens, so bin ich doch froh und freue mich mit euch allen;
Perhaps [the Roman authorities] will execute me, [and my blood will pour out] [MET] [as the] wine pours out when the priest offers it to God [MET]. [For your part], you believe [in Christ firmly]. As a result, you have given yourselves completely to God in order that you might do what he wills [MET], [just like a priest] offers a sacrifice [completely to God] [MET]. [Because I dedicate myself wholly to God] together with you, even if [they are about to execute me], I will greatly rejoice [DOU], [because I am giving myself wholly to God], and because you all [are giving yourselves wholly to God].
18 gleicherweise sollt auch ihr froh sein und euch mit mir freuen!
Similarly, you too should rejoice [because you are giving yourselves wholly to God], and you should rejoice because I [am giving myself wholly to God].
19 Ich hoffe aber in dem Herrn Jesus, Timotheus bald zu euch zu senden, damit ich ermutigt werde, wenn ich erfahre, wie es um euch steht.
My relationship with the Lord Jesus [leads me] to confidently expect that [he will enable me] to send Timothy to you soon, in order that [his telling you the news about me will encourage you. But] I also expect that [his returning to me and] telling me the news about you will encourage me.
20 Denn ich habe sonst niemand von gleicher Gesinnung, der so redlich für eure Anliegen sorgen wird;
[Keep in mind that] I have no one [else] like him who genuinely cares for you.
21 denn sie suchen alle das Ihre, nicht das, was Christi Jesu ist!
All the others [whom I have considered that I might send to you] are concerned [only] about their own matters. They are not concerned about what Jesus Christ [considers important].
22 Wie er sich aber bewährt hat, das wisset ihr, daß er nämlich, wie ein Kind dem Vater, mit mir Dienst getan hat für das Evangelium.
But you know that Timothy has proved that he [serves the Lord and others faithfully. You know] that he has served [the Lord closely together] with me in [proclaiming to people] the message about Christ as though he were [SIM] my son and I were his [own] father.
23 Diesen nun hoffe ich sofort zu senden, sobald ich absehen kann, wie es mit mir gehen wird.
So then he is the one I confidently expect to send [to you] as soon as I know what will happen to me.
24 Ich bin aber voll Zuversicht im Herrn, daß auch ich selbst bald kommen werde.
And I am confident that I will soon be released {[the authorities will soon release me]} [so that] the Lord will enable me also to come/go [to you] soon.
25 Doch habe ich es für notwendig erachtet, Epaphroditus, meinen Bruder und Mitarbeiter und Mitstreiter, der auch als euer Gesandter und Diener meiner Not mir zu Hilfe kam, zu euch zu senden;
I have concluded that it is [really] necessary that I send Epaphroditus [back] to you. He is a fellow believer and my fellow worker, and he [endures difficulties together with me] [MET], [just like] soldiers [endure difficulties together]. You sent him [to me] in order that he might help me when I was needy [EUP].
26 denn er hatte Verlangen nach euch allen und war bekümmert, weil ihr gehört hattet, daß er krank gewesen sei.
[But I have concluded that I must send him back to you] because he has been longing to see you all. Furthermore, he has been [very] distressed because [he knows that] you heard that he had become sick.
27 Er war auch wirklich todkrank; aber Gott hat sich seiner erbarmt, und nicht nur über ihn, sondern auch über mich, damit ich nicht eine Traurigkeit um die andere hätte.
Indeed, he was so sick that he almost died. However, [he did not die]. Instead, God pitied him and he also pitied me, [and as a result he healed him. God pitied me] because he did not want me to be even more sorrowful than I already was.
28 Desto schleuniger habe ich ihn nun gesandt, damit ihr durch seinen Anblick wieder froh werdet und auch ich weniger Traurigkeit habe.
So, I am sending him [back to you] as quickly as possible, in order that you may rejoice [when you see him again] and in order that I may be less sorrowful [than I was].
29 So nehmt ihn nun auf im Herrn mit aller Freude und haltet solche Männer in Ehren;
Welcome him very joyfully [just like believers] in [our] Lord [Jesus should welcome one another. While he was] working for Christ, he was helping me in place of you [because you were far away]. He knew that he might die as a result of helping me, and [truly] he nearly did die. So honor [him, and honor all] those who are like him.
30 denn um des Werkes Christi willen ist er dem Tode nahe gekommen, da er sein Leben dransetzte, um mir zu dienen an eurer Statt.
