Philipper 2

1 Ist nun eine Ermahnung in Christus, ist ein Trost der Liebe, ist eine Gemeinschaft des Geistes, ist herzliche Liebe und Barmherzigkeit,

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 dadurch vollkommen, daß ihr eines Sinnes seid, gleiche Liebe zu einander habt, einmütig und einträchtig 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 Streitsucht oder Eitelkeit, sondern in Demut, so daß einer den anderen höher achte, denn 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 Und ein jeglicher nicht auf das Seine sehe, sondern auch auf das, was des anderen ist.

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 Seid derselben Gesinnung, wie auch Jesus Christus war,

You should think/act just like Christ Jesus [thought/acted].

6 Der, ob Er wohl in göttlicher Gestalt war, es nicht für einen Raub achtete, 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 entäußerte, Knechtsgestalt annahm, und ward wie andere Menschen, und im Äußeren wie ein Mensch erfunden 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 Er erniedrigte Sich und ward gehorsam bis zum Tode, ja zum Tod am Kreuz.

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 Weshalb Ihn auch Gott erhöht, und Ihm einen Namen verliehen hat, der über alle Namen ist:

As a result, God promoted him [to a] rank [that] is above every [other] rank.

10 Auf daß im Namen Jesus sich beugen sollen alle Knie derer, 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 sollen, daß Jesus Christus der Herr ist, zur Verherrlichung 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, so wie ihr allezeit gehorsam gewesen seid, nicht allein in meiner Gegenwart, sondern nun vielmehr in meiner Abwesenheit, so schafft, daß ihr selig werdet, 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 wirkt, beides, das Wollen und das Vollbringen, wie es Ihm wohlgefällt.

[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 Bedenklichkeit,

Do everything [God or your leaders ask you to do]. Never complain about what they want you to do, or argue with them.

15 Auf daß ihr seid tadellos und lauter, Gottes Kinder, unsträflich inmitten des entarteten und verkehrten Geschlechts, unter dem ihr leuchtet, wie Himmelslichter 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 haltet ob dem Worte des Lebens, zum Ruhme für mich, auf den Tag Christi, daß ich nicht vergeblich gelaufen bin, noch umsonst 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 Und wenn mein Blut auch vergossen wird am Altardienst eures Glaubens, so freue ich mich, 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 Desgleichen sollt auch ihr euch freuen, euch freuen mit mir.

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 im Herrn Jesus, daß ich Timotheus bald könne zu euch senden, damit auch ich guten Mutes werde, wenn ich erfahre, wie es bei 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 keinen, der so ganz meines Sinnes wäre, und so redlich um euch 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 Jesus Christus zugehört.

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 Ihr werdet seine Tüchtigkeit inne werden; denn wie ein Kind mit dem Vater, hat er mit mir am Evangelium gedient.

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 Ich hoffe ihn von Stund an senden zu können, wenn ich absehe, wie es mit mir geht.

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 vertraue aber zum 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 Ich habe aber für nötig erachtet, den Bruder Epaphroditus zu euch zu senden, der mein Mitarbeiter und Mitstreiter, und euer Bote, und Diener meiner Notdurft ist;

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 Weil ihn nach euch allen verlangte, und ihn bekümmerte, daß ihr gehört habt, daß er krank war.

[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 Auch lag er krank auf den Tod, aber Gott hat Sich über ihn erbarmt, aber nicht allein über ihn, sondern auch über mich, auf daß ich nicht Betrübnis über Betrübnis 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 Ich habe um so weniger gesäumt, ihn an euch abgehen zu lassen, auf daß ihr ihn seht und wieder fröhlich werdet, und ich weniger betrübt wäre.

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 und 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 wegen Christi Werk ist er dem Tod so nahe gekommen und hat sein Leben gering geachtet, auf daß er mir an eurer Statt Handreichung leiste.