²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things,^(A) the crowds were amazed at his teaching,^{(B) 29} because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”^(A)

⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,^{(A) 44} and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,^(B) and to give his life as a ransom for many.”^(C)

¹¹ For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”^(A)

²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,^(A) and the one who rules like the one who serves.^{(B) 27} For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.^(C)

¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’^(A) and ‘Lord,’^(B) and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.^{(C) 15} I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.^{(D) 16} Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,^(E) nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^(A)

Do Everything Without Grumbling

¹² 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,^{(N) 13} for it is God who works in you^(O) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.^(P)

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling^(Q) or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless^(R) and pure, “children of God^(S) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[c](T) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ^(U) that I did not run^(V) or labor in vain.^{(W) 17} But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering^(X) on the sacrifice^(Y) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.^{(Z) 18} So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy^(AA) to you soon,^(AB) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him,^(AC) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests,^(AD) not those of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father^(AE) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³ I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.^{(AF) 24} And I am confident^(AG) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

²⁵ But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker^(AH) and fellow soldier,^(AI) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.^{(AJ) 26} For he longs for all of you^(AK) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷ 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. ²⁸ Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,^(AL) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹ So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,^{(AM) 30} because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.^(AN)