1 ¶ Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

2 f ulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same charity, unanimous, minding the one thing.

fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 L et nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in humility let each esteem others better than themselves,

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

4 w ith each one not looking to their own things, but also to the things of others.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. The Humbled and Exalted Christ

5 L et this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 w ho, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7 b ut emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, made in the likeness of men,

but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8 a nd being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

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

9 T herefore, God also has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name,

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

10 t hat at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth,

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

11 a nd that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is Lord in the glory of God the Father.

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

12 ¶ Therefore, my beloved, as ye have always hearkened, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own saving health with fear and trembling.

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

13 F or it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

14 ¶ Do all things without murmurings and doubts,

Do all things without complaining and disputing,

15 t hat ye may be blameless and innocent, children of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world,

that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

16 h olding fast the word of life, that I may glory in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

17 A nd even if I am poured out as an offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.

Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

18 F or the same cause ye also have joy and rejoice with me.

For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. Timothy Commended

19 B ut I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state.

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.

20 F or I have no one likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.

21 F or all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.

22 B ut ye know the proof of him, that as a son with the father, he has served with me in the gospel.

But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.

23 T herefore, I hope to send him presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.

24 B ut I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. Epaphroditus Praised

25 Y et I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labour and fellowsoldier, but your messenger and he that ministered to my needs.

Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;

26 F or he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because ye had heard that he had been sick

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

27 F or indeed he was sick near unto death, but God had mercy on him and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

For indeed he was sick almost 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 I sent him, therefore, the more carefully, that when ye see him again, ye may rejoice and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.

29 R eceive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness and esteem such

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;

30 b ecause for the work of the Christ he was near unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.