Philippians (The Epistle of Paul to the )

If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;

do not [merely] look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

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

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

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

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for [His] good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

And you too, [I urge you,] rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.

For I have no one [else] of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

But you know of his proven worth that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child [serving] his father.

Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things [go] with me;

and I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall be coming shortly.

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

because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.

For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly in order that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned [about] you.

Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard;

because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.