Philippians 2

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that you may be of one mind, having the same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment.3 Let nothing be done through contention, neither by vain glory: but in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:4 Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men's.5 For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man.8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names:10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.12 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence,) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.13 For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will.14 And do ye all things without murmurings and hesitations;15 That you may be blameless, and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom you shine as lights in the world.16 Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ, because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.17 Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and congratulate with you all.18 And for the selfsame thing do you also rejoice, and congratulate with me.19 And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy unto you shortly, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know the things concerning you.20 For I have no man so of the same mind, who with sincere affection is solicitous for you.21 For all seek the things that are their own; not the things that are Jesus Christ's.22 Now know ye the proof of him, that as a son with the father, so hath he served with me in the gospel.23 Him therefore I hope to send unto you immediately, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.24 And I trust in the Lord, that I myself also shall come to you shortly.25 But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow labourer, and fellow soldier, but your apostle, and he that hath ministered to my wants.26 For indeed he longed after you all: and was sad, for that you had heard that he was sick.27 For indeed he was sick, nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him; and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.28 Therefore I sent him the more speedily: that seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow.29 Receive him therefore with all joy in the Lord; and treat with honour such as he is.30 Because for the work of Christ he came to the point of death: delivering his life, that he might fulfil that which on your part was wanting towards 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