NIV
Philippians 2
- 1<pb/>Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
- 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
- 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
- 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
- 5<pb/>In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
- 6<pb/><t>Who, being in very nature<f>[6]</f> God,</t> <t>did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;</t>
- 7<t>rather, he made himself nothing</t> <t>by taking the very nature<f>[7]</f> of a servant,</t> <t>being made in human likeness.</t>
- 8<t>And being found in appearance as a man,</t> <t>he humbled himself</t> <t>by becoming obedient to death—</t> <t>even death on a cross! <pb/></t>
- 9<t>Therefore God exalted him to the highest place</t> <t>and gave him the name that is above every name,</t>
- 10<t>that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,</t> <t>in heaven and on earth and under the earth,</t>
- 11<t>and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,</t> <t>to the glory of God the Father.</t>
- 12<pb/>Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
- 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
- 14<pb/>Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
- 15so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”<f>[8]</f> Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
- 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
- 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
- 19<pb/>I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.
- 20I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.
- 21For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
- 22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
- 23I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
- 24And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
- 25<pb/>But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
- 26For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.
- 27Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
- 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.
- 29So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,
- 30because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.