1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.23Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.24But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.25Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.26For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.27For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.28I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:30Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
Philippians 2
New International Reader’s Version
Being humble like Christ
1So does belonging to Christ help you in any way? Does his love comfort you at all? Do you share anything in common because of the Holy Spirit? Has Christ ever been gentle and loving towards you?2If any of these things has happened to you, then agree with one another. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and in the way you think and act. By doing this, you will make my joy complete.3Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves.4None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others.5As you deal with one another, you should think and act as Jesus did.6In his very nature he was God. Jesus was equal with God. But Jesus didn’t take advantage of that fact.7Instead, he made himself nothing. He did this by taking on the nature of a servant. He was made just like human beings.8He appeared as a man. He was humble and obeyed God completely. He did this even though it led to his death. Even worse, he died on a cross!9So God lifted him up to the highest place. God gave him the name that is above every name.10When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone will kneel down to worship him. Everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will kneel down to worship him.11Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord. And God the Father will receive the glory.
Live without complaining
12My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling.13God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to fulfil his good purpose.14Do everything without complaining or arguing.15Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault among sinful and evil people. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.16You will shine as you hold on tight to the word of life. Then I will be able to boast about you on the day Christ returns. I can be happy that I didn’t run or work for nothing.17But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. I’m talking about the way you serve because you believe. Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you.18So you too should be glad and joyful with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19I hope to send Timothy to you soon if the Lord Jesus allows it. Then I will be encouraged when I receive news about you.20I have no one else like Timothy. He will truly care about how you are doing.21All the others are looking out for their own interests. They are not looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ.22But you know that Timothy has proved himself. He has served with me like a son with his father in spreading the good news.23So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.24And I’m sure I myself will come soon if the Lord allows it.25But I think it’s necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother in the Lord. He is a worker and a soldier of Christ together with me. He is also your messenger. You sent him to take care of my needs.26He longs for all of you. He is troubled because you heard he was ill.27He was very ill. In fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him. He also had mercy on me. God spared me sadness after sadness.28So I want even more to send him to you. Then when you see him again, you will be glad. And I won’t worry so much.29So then, welcome him as a brother in the Lord with great joy. Honour people like him.30He almost died for the work of Christ. He put his life in danger to make up for the help you yourselves couldn’t give me.