Philippians 2

1 Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, any solace of charity, any fellowship of the Spirit, any feelings of commiseration:2 complete my joy by having the same understanding, holding to the same charity, being of one mind, with the same sentiment.3 Let nothing be done by contention, nor in vain glory. Instead, in humility, let each of you esteem others to be better than himself.4 Let each of you not consider anything to be your own, but rather to belong to others.5 For this understanding in you was also in Christ Jesus:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized.7 Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a man.8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even the death of the Cross.9 Because of this, God has also exalted him and has given him a name which is above every name,10 so that, at the name of Jesus, every knee would bend, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those in hell,11 and so that every tongue would confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.12 And so, my most beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but even more so now in my absence: work toward your salvation with fear and trembling.13 For it is God who works in you, both so as to choose, and so as to act, in accord with his good will.14 And do everything without murmuring or hesitation.15 So may you be without blame, simple sons of God, without reproof, in the midst of a depraved and perverse nation, among whom you shine like lights in the world,16 holding to the Word of Life, until my glory in the day of Christ. For I have not run in vain, nor have I labored in vain.17 Moreover, if I am to be immolated because of the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and give thanks with all of you.18 And over this same thing, you also should rejoice and give thanks, together with me.19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, in order that I may be encouraged, when I know the things concerning you.20 For I have no one else with such an agreeable mind, who, with sincere affection, is solicitous for you.21 For they all seek the things that are of themselves, not the things that are of Jesus Christ.22 So know this evidence of him: that like a son with a father, so has he served with me in the Gospel.23 Therefore, I hope to send him to you immediately, as soon as I see what will happen concerning me.24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself will also return to you soon.25 Now I have considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and co-worker, and fellow soldier, and an attendant to my needs, but your Apostle.26 For certainly, he has desired all of you, and he was saddened because you had heard that he was sick.27 For he was sick, even unto death, but God took pity on him, and not only on him, but truly on myself also, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.28 Therefore, I sent him more readily, in order that, by seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow.29 And so, receive him with every joy in the Lord, and treat all those like him with honor.30 For he was brought close even to death, for the sake of the work of Christ, handing over his own life, so that he might fulfill what was lacking from you concerning my service.

Philippians 2

Christian Unity and Christ’s Humility

1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit,t any affection or mercy,t2 complete my joy and be of the same mind,t by having the same love, being united in spirit,t and having one purpose.3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambitiont or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.4 Each of you should be concernedt not onlyt about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.st

5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,t

6 s who though he existed in the form of Gods
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,t
by looking like other men,ts
and by sharing in human nature.ts

8 He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
– even death on a cross!

9 As a result God exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow
– in heaven and on earth and under the earth –

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

Lights in the World

12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence,t13 for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the worldt16 by holding on tot the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.17 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 together with all of you.

18 And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.

Models for Ministry

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.20 For there is no one here like him who will readily demonstrate his deep concern for you.t21 Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.22 But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel.23 So I hope to send him as soon as I know more about my situation,

24 though I am confident in the Lord that I too will be coming to see yout soon.
25 But for nowt I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother,ts coworker and fellow soldier, and your messengert and ministert to me in my need.t26 Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill.27 In fact he became so ill that he nearly died.t But God showed mercy to him – and not to him only, but also to me – so that I would not have grief on top of grief.28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,t so that when you see him again you can rejoicet and I can be free from anxiety.29 So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,

30 since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.t