2
Unity Through Humility
1Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any ⚓affection and mercy,
2⚓fulfill my joy ⚓by being like-minded, having the same love, being of ⚓one accord, of one mind.
3⚓Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but ⚓in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4⚓Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of ⚓others.
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
5⚓Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6who, ⚓being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7⚓but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form ⚓of a bondservant, and⚓coming in the likeness of men.
8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and ⚓became ⚓obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9⚓Therefore God also ⚓has highly exalted Him and ⚓given Him the name which is above every name,
10⚓that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11and ⚓that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Light Bearers
12Therefore, my beloved, ⚓as you 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 who works in you both to will and to do ⚓for His good pleasure.
14Do all things ⚓without complaining and ⚓disputing,
15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as ⚓lights in the world,
16holding fast the word of life, so that ⚓I may rejoice in the day of Christ that ⚓I have not run in vain or labored in ⚓vain.
17Yes, and if ⚓I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice ⚓and service of your faith, ⚓I am glad and rejoice with you all.
18For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy Commended
19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send ⚓Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
20For I have no one ⚓like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
22But you know his proven character, ⚓that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
23Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.
24But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
Epaphroditus Praised
25Yet I considered it necessary to send to you ⚓Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and ⚓fellow soldier, ⚓but your messenger and ⚓the one who ministered to my need;
26⚓since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
27For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
30because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, ⚓to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.