1 I f, then, any exhortation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of 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 may mind the same thing -- having the same love -- of one soul -- minding the one thing,

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

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 not to your own look ye, but each 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 F or, let this mind be in you that 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 not robbery to be equal to 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 did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made,

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 in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death -- death even of a 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, also, God did highly exalt him, and gave to him a name that 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 in the name of Jesus every knee may bow -- of heavenlies, and earthlies, and what are 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 every tongue may confess that Jesus Christ 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 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,

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 God it is who is working 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 A ll things do without murmurings and reasonings,

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

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,

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 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;

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 b ut if also I am poured forth upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and joy 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 b ecause of this do ye also rejoice and joy with me.

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

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,

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 like-minded, who sincerely for the things concerning you will care,

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

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

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

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;

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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.

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 T he more eagerly, therefore, I did send him, that having seen him again ye may rejoice, and 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 honour,

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

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.

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.