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

If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,

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

make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

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

doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

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

each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

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

Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,

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

who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

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

but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

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

And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

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

Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;

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

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

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

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

12 T herefore, 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;

So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, 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 for His good pleasure.

For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

14 D o all things without complaining and disputing,

Do all things without murmurings and disputes,

15 t hat 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,

that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

16 h olding 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.

holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.

17 Y es, 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.

Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.

18 F or the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. Timothy Commended

In the same way, you also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

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

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.

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

For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.

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

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

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

But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

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

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

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

But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.

25 Y et 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;

But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need;

26 s ince he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.

since he longed for you all, and was very troubled, because you had heard that he was sick.

27 F or 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.

For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.

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

I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

29 R eceive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor,

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

because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.