Philippians 2

1 If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,

Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

2 make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.

3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name,

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

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

For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

14 Do all things without complaining and arguing,

Do everything without complaining or arguing,

15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

16 holding up the word of life, that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.

as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

17 Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

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

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

So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.

20 For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.

I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs.

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

For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

22 But you know that he has proved himself. As a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.

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

So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me.

24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.

And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,

But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.

26 since he longed for you all, and was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick.

For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.

27 For indeed he was sick nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.

He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

28 I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious.

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor,

Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him,

30 because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.