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,

So then, if you're encouraged by being in Christ, if you're comforted by his love, if you share together in the Spirit, if you have compassion and sympathy—

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 thinking the same way and loving the same way, spiritually united and having one purpose.

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

Don't do anything from a spirit of selfishness or pride, but humbly think of others better than you do of yourself.

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

None of you should be preoccupied about your own things—instead concern yourself with the interests of others too.

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

The attitude you should have is the same as that of Christ Jesus.

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

Though in his nature he was always God, he wasn't concerned to cling on to his equality with God.

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

Instead he emptied himself, taking the nature of a servant, becoming like a human being.

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

Coming in human form, humbling himself, he submitted himself 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,

That's why God placed him in the position of greatest honor and power, and gave him the most prestigious name—

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

so that in the name of Jesus everyone should bow in respect, whether in heaven or on earth or under the earth,

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

and all will declare 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.

So, my good friends, continue to work towards the goal of salvation with complete reverence and respect for God, following what you were told—not just when I was with you, but even more so now I'm away from you.

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

For it's God who is working within you, creating the will and the ability to do what he wants you to do.

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'll be sincere, innocent of any wrong. Be God's blameless children living in the middle of a dishonest and corrupt people. Shine among them as lights to 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.

holding out to them the word of life. That way I'll have something to be proud of when Christ returns, proving I didn't run around and work for nothing!

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

So even if I pour out my life as a sacrifice and offering so you may trust in God, I'm happy for it, and I'm glad together with all of you,

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

just as you have such joy and are glad 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.

I'm hoping, if that's what the Lord Jesus wants, to send Timothy to you soon. It will cheer me up once I know how you're doing.

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

I don't know anyone who genuinely cares about you as he does.

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

Other people only worry about 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 already know what he's like—just as a child working to help his father, so he's worked with me to spread the good news.

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 how I'm doing,

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

and I trust in the Lord that shortly I'll be able to come too.

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 was important to send Epaphroditus to you. He's a brother to me, a co-worker and fellow-soldier. He's the one you sent to look after me,

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

and he's been longing to see all of you, worried about you because you'd heard he was sick.

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 certainly was sick—he nearly died—but God had mercy on him. Not just on him, but on me too, so that I wouldn't have tragedy upon tragedy.

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.

That's why I'm so keen to send him, so that when you see him you'll be happy, and I won't have to be so anxious.

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

So welcome him with much happiness in the Lord—honor people 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 in working for Christ he nearly died, putting his life on the line to make up for the help you weren't in a position to give me.