| 1 | So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, |
| 2 | complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. |
| 3 | Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. |
| 4 | Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. |
| 5 | Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, |
| 6 | who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, |
| 7 | but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. |
| 8 | And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. |
| 9 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, |
| 10 | that at the name of Jesus every knee should 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. |
| 12 | Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; |
| 13 | for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. |
| 14 | Do all things without grumbling or questioning, |
| 15 | that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, |
| 16 | holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. |
| 17 | Even if I am to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. |
| 18 | Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. |
| 19 | I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. |
| 20 | I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. |
| 21 | They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
| 22 | But Timothy's worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. |
| 23 | I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me; |
| 24 | and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come also. |
| 25 | I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphrodi'tus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, |
| 26 | for he has been longing for you all, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. |
| 27 | Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. |
| 28 | I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. |
| 29 | So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men, |
| 30 | for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me. |