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

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 m ake my joy full, by being like-minded, 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 d oing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

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 e ach of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to 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 H ave this in your mind, 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, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

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 emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being 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 human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, 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 T herefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the 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 those in heaven, those on earth, and those 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 S o 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.

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 who works in you both to will and to work, for 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 disputes,

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

15 t hat 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,

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 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.

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 es, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, 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 I n the same way, you also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

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

19 B ut 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.

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 one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.

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

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

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

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

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 T herefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I 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 myself also will come shortly.

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

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

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 s ince he longed for you all, and was very troubled, because you had heard that he was 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, 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.

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 have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when you see him again, you 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 joy, and hold such in honor,

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 came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your 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.