Therefore if
there is any
encouragement
in Christ
, if
there is any
consolation
of love
, if
there is any
afellowship
of the Spirit
, if
any
1 baffection
and compassion
,
amake my joy
complete
1by bbeing of the same
mind
, maintaining
the same
love
, united
in spirit
, intent
on one
purpose
.
Do nothing 1from 2 aselfishness
or
bempty
conceit
, but with humility
of mind
cregard
one
another
as more
important
than yourselves
;
ado not merely look out for your own
personal
interests, but also
for the interests of others
.
aHave this
attitude
1in yourselves
which
was also
in bChrist
Jesus
,
who, although He aexisted
in the bform
of God
, cdid not regard
equality
with God
a thing
to be 1grasped
,
but 1 aemptied Himself
, taking
the form
of a bbond-servant
, and cbeing
made
in the likeness
of men
.
Being found in appearance
as a man
, aHe humbled
Himself
by becoming
bobedient
to the point
of death
, even
cdeath
1on a cross
.
aFor this reason
also
, God
bhighly
exalted
Him, and bestowed
on Him cthe name
which is above
every
name
,
so that at the name
of Jesus
aEVERY
KNEE
WILL BOW
, of bthose who are in heaven
and on earth
and under
the earth
,
and that every tongue
will confess
that Jesus
Christ
is aLord
, to the glory
of God
the Father
.
So then
, my beloved
, ajust
as you have always
obeyed
, not as in my presence
only
, but now
much
more
in my absence
, work
out your bsalvation
with cfear
and trembling
;
for it is aGod who is at work
in you, both
to will
and to work
bfor His good
pleasure
.
Do all
things
without
agrumbling
or
disputing
;
so that you will 1prove
yourselves to be ablameless
and innocent
, bchildren
of God
above
reproach
in the midst
of a ccrooked
and perverse
generation
, among
whom
you 2 dappear
as 3lights
in the world
,
holding 1fast
the word
of life
, so
that in athe day
of Christ
I will have reason
to glory
because
I did not brun
in vain
nor
ctoil
in vain
.
But even if
I am being apoured
out as a drink
offering
upon bthe sacrifice
and service
of your faith
, I rejoice
and share
my joy
with you all
.
You too, I urge you, rejoice
in the same
way
and share
your joy
with me.
But I hope 1in the Lord
Jesus
to asend
bTimothy
to you shortly
, so
that I also
may be encouraged
when I learn
of your condition
.
For I have no
one
else aof kindred
spirit
who
will genuinely
be concerned
for your welfare
.
For they all aseek
after
their own
interests, not those
of Christ
Jesus
.
But you know aof his proven
worth
, that bhe served
with me in the furtherance of the gospel
clike
a child
serving his father
.
aTherefore I hope
to send
him immediately
, as soon as I see
how
things
go with me;
and aI trust in the Lord
that I myself
also
will be coming
shortly
.
But I thought it necessary
to send
to you aEpaphroditus
, my brother
and bfellow
worker
and cfellow
soldier
, who is also
your 1 dmessenger
and aminister
to my need
;
because he was longing
1for you all
and was distressed
because
you had heard
that he was sick
.
For indeed he was sick
to the point
of death
, but God
had
mercy
on him, and not on him only
but also
on me, so
that I would not have
sorrow
upon sorrow
.
Therefore I have sent
him all
the more
eagerly
so
that when you see
him again
you may rejoice
and I may be less
concerned
about you.
aReceive him then
in the Lord
with all
joy
, and bhold
men
like
him in high
regard
;
because he came
close
to death
1 afor the work
of Christ
, risking
his life
to bcomplete
2what
was deficient
in your service
to me.