1 I f, then, any exhortation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 f ulfil ye my joy, that ye may mind the same thing -- having the same love -- of one soul -- minding the one thing,

3 n othing in rivalry or vain-glory, but in humility of mind one another counting more excellent than yourselves --

4 e ach not to your own look ye, but each also to the things of others.

5 F or, let this mind be in you that also in Christ Jesus,

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

7 b ut did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made,

8 a nd in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death -- death even of a cross,

9 w herefore, also, God did highly exalt him, and gave to him a name that above every name,

10 t hat in the name of Jesus every knee may bow -- of heavenlies, and earthlies, and what are under the earth --

11 a nd every tongue may confess that Jesus Christ Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 S o that, my beloved, as ye always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling your own salvation work out,

13 f or God it is who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14 A ll things do without murmurings and reasonings,

15 t hat ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God, unblemished in the midst of a generation crooked and perverse, among whom ye do appear as luminaries in the world,

16 t he word of life holding forth, for rejoicing to me in regard to a day of Christ, that not in vain did I run, nor in vain did I labour;

17 b ut if also I am poured forth upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and joy with you all,

18 b ecause of this do ye also rejoice and joy with me.

19 A nd I hope, in the Lord Jesus, Timotheus to send quickly to you, that I also may be of good spirit, having known the things concerning you,

20 f or I have no one like-minded, who sincerely for the things concerning you will care,

21 f or the whole seek their own things, not the things of the Christ Jesus,

22 a nd the proof of him ye know, that as a child a father, with me he did serve in regard to the good news;

23 h im, indeed, therefore, I hope to send, when I may see through the things concerning me -- immediately;

24 a nd I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall quickly come.

25 A nd I thought necessary Epaphroditus -- my brother, and fellow-workman, and fellow-soldier, and your apostle and servant to my need -- to send unto you,

26 s eeing he was longing after you all, and in heaviness, because ye heard that he ailed,

27 f or he also ailed nigh to death, but God did deal kindly with him, and not with him only, but also with me, that sorrow upon sorrow I might not have.

28 T he more eagerly, therefore, I did send him, that having seen him again ye may rejoice, and I may be the less sorrowful;

29 r eceive him, therefore, in the Lord, with all joy, and hold such in honour,

30 b ecause on account of the work of the Christ he drew near to death, having hazarded the life that he might fill up your deficiency of service unto me.