Philippians 2

¹Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from love, if any fellowship based on the spirit, if any compassion or mercy,

²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, and being united together with one soul—of one mind.

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or out of conceit, but in humility value others as more important than yourselves.

⁴Each of you should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of each other.

⁵Have this mindset in you that was also in Christ Jesus,

⁶who, though being in the appearance of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped at,

⁷but instead he emptied himself by taking the appearance of a servant, becoming like the rest of humankind. And being found as an ordinary human,

⁸he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death—even death on a cross!

⁹And therefore God raised him to the highest place of honor and gave him the name that is above every name,

¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—

¹¹and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹²So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

¹³because it is God who is working in you both to want to do, and to do, his good pleasure.

¹⁴Do all things without complaining or arguing

¹⁵so that you are blameless and pure, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. Shine among them as lights in the world

¹⁶as you hold fast the word of life, so that I have a reason for boasting on the Day of Christ, that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

¹⁷Indeed, even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service coming from your trust, I rejoice and share my joy with you all,

¹⁸and in the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

¹⁹Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too will be cheered up when I learn how you are doing.

²⁰For I have no one else that is like-minded, who will genuinely care for your interests,

²¹because they are all seeking their own interests, not the interests of Jesus Christ.

²²But you know his proven character, that like a child with a father, he has served with me in the advancement of the good news.

²³Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things will go with me,

²⁴although I have confidence in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.

²⁵Meanwhile, I consider it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you—my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and servant to me in my need—

²⁶since he has been longing for you all and was very troubled because you heard that he was sick.

²⁷For indeed he was sick, close to 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.

²⁸Therefore, I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice, and so that I will be less anxious about you.

²⁹So welcome him as a brother in the Lord with all joy and hold people like him in high regard,

³⁰because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life in order to provide what you were not able to in your service to me.