Philippians
2
- If you have any encouragement from being
united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the
Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
- then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain
conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
- Each of you should look not only to your
own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- Your attitude should be the same as that
of Christ Jesus:
- Who, being in very nature God, did not consider
equality with God something to be grasped,
- but made himself nothing, taking the very
nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- And being found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross !
- Therefore God exalted him to the highest
place and gave him the name that is above every name,
- that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- 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,
- for it is God who works in you to will and
to act according to his good purpose.
- Do everything without complaining or arguing,
- so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which
you shine like stars in the universe
- as you hold out the word of life--in order
that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
- But 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.
- So you too should be glad and rejoice with
me.
- I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy
to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.
- I have no one else like him, who takes a
genuine interest in your welfare.
- For everyone looks out for his own interests,
not those of Jesus Christ.
- But 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.
- I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as
I see how things go with me.
- And I am confident in the Lord that I myself
will come soon.
- But I think it is necessary to send back
to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is
also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
- For he longs for all of you and is distressed
because you heard he was ill.
- Indeed 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.
- Therefore 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.
- Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and
honor men like him,
- because he almost died for the work of Christ,
risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
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