1 I f there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

So by whatever strengthening and consoling and encouraging in Him, by whatever persuasive incentive there is in love, by whatever participation in the Spirit, and by whatever depth of affection and compassionate sympathy,

2 F ulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention.

3 L et nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Do nothing from factional motives or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself.

4 L ook not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.

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

Let this same attitude and purpose and mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus:

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

Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God '> possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,

7 B ut made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

But stripped Himself '> rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.

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 after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!

9 W herefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that 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 in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

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

And every tongue '> frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 W herefore, my beloved, as ye 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.

Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

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

for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

14 D o all things without murmurings and disputings:

Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining '> against God] and questioning and doubting,

15 T hat ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the world,

16 H olding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Holding out and offering the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose.

17 Y ea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Even if must be poured out as a libation on the sacrificial offering of your faith, still I am glad and congratulate you all on it.

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

And you also in like manner be glad and congratulate me on it.

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

But I hope and trust in the Lord Jesus soon to send Timothy to you, so that I may also be encouraged and cheered by learning news of you.

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

For I have no one like him who will be so genuinely interested in your welfare and devoted to your interests.

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

For the others all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

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

But Timothy’s tested worth you know, how as a son with his father he has toiled with me zealously in the good news (the Gospel).

23 H im therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

I hope therefore to send him promptly, just as soon as I know how my case is going to turn out.

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

But I am confident and fully trusting in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come to you also.

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 wants.

However, I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. my brother and companion in labor and my fellow soldier, as well as your special messenger (apostle) and minister to my need.

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

For he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you had heard that he was ill.

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

He certainly was ill, near to death. But God had compassion on him, and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow coming 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.

So I have sent him the more willingly and eagerly, that you may be gladdened at seeing him again, and that I may be the less disquieted.

29 R eceive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor and highly appreciate men like him,

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

For it was through working for Christ that he came so near death, risking his life to complete the deficiencies in your service to me.