基督徒的谦卑

所以,你们如果在基督里有任何鼓励、任何爱的安慰、任何圣灵里的契合[a]、任何情感和怜悯, 你们就要同心合意——爱心一致、灵里一致、意念一致,好使我的喜乐得以满足。 做任何事都不要出于争竞[b],也不可出于虚荣,而要以谦卑的心,各人看别人比自己强; 每个人不要只注重自己的事,也要注重别人的事。

基督的榜样

你们应当有这样的意念,这也是基督耶稣的意念。

虽然他就是神本体的存在,
却不把与神同等看做是一件要强抓不放的事,
反而倒空自己,
取了奴仆的形像,成为人的样式,
以人的形态出现,
降卑自己,顺从至死,
甚至死在十字架上!
因此神使他升为至高,
赐给他那超越万名之上的名,
10 好使天上、地上和地底下的一切,
因耶稣的名都屈膝,
11 万口为了父神的荣耀
要承认耶稣基督是主。

做世界的光

12 因此,我亲爱的各位,既然你们一直是顺从的——不仅我在的时候如此,现今我不在的时候更加顺从——就当怀着敬畏和战兢的心,把你们的救恩行出来, 13 因为是神在你们里面运作,使你们愿意并且能行出他的美意。 14 做任何事都不要抱怨或争论[c] 15 好使你们成为无可指责、纯洁无伪的人,在这扭曲、败坏的世代中,做神毫无瑕疵的儿女;在这世代中,要像星星的光辉一样照耀在世上。 16 你们要持守生命的话语,好让我在基督的日子[d]里可以夸耀我所奔跑的没有落空,我所劳苦的也没有落空。 17 然而,即使我被做为奠祭,浇在你们信仰的祭物和服事上,我也欢喜,并且和你们大家一同欢喜; 18 你们也应该照样欢喜,并且与我一同欢喜。

提摩太与以帕弗迪托

19 我在主耶稣里,希望不久能派提摩太到你们那里去,好让我也知道有关你们的事,可以心情愉快。 20 实际上,我没有别的人与我同心,真正地挂虑你们的事; 21 因为大家都寻求自己的事,不寻求耶稣基督的事。 22 但是,你们是知道提摩太那经过考验的品德。因为他在福音工作上与我一起服事[e],就像儿子与父亲那样。 23 所以我希望,一旦知道我的事有什么结局[f],就立即派他去。 24 不过我在主里深信,我自己不久也会去的。

25 然而,我认为必须派以帕弗迪托到你们那里去;他是我的弟兄、同工、战友,也是你们的使者,是为我的需要而来的服事者, 26 因为他一直切切地想念你们大家,并且因你们听说他患了病,他就极其难过。 27 事实上,他虽然患了病几乎死去,可是神怜悯了他;不仅怜悯他,也怜悯了我,免得我忧上加忧。 28 所以,我就更迫切地派他去,好让你们见到他,能够再次欢喜,而我也可以少些挂虑。 29 因此,你们要在主里满怀喜乐地欢迎他,也要敬重这样的人, 30 因为他为了基督的工作,几乎至死,冒了生命的危险,为要弥补你们服事我的缺乏。

Footnotes

  1. 腓立比书 2:1 契合——或译作“沟通”或“分享”。
  2. 腓立比书 2:3 争竞——或译作“结党”。
  3. 腓立比书 2:14 争论——或译作“算计”。
  4. 腓立比书 2:16 日子——指“基督再来的日子”。
  5. 腓立比书 2:22 服事——原文直译“做奴仆”。
  6. 腓立比书 2:23 有什么结局——辅助词语。

效法基督的謙卑

所以,你們在基督裡若有甚麼鼓勵,有甚麼愛心的安慰,有甚麼靈裡的契通,有甚麼慈悲和憐憫, 就應當有同樣的思想,同樣的愛心,要心志相同,思想一致,使我充滿喜樂。 不要自私自利,也不要貪圖虛榮,只要謙卑,看別人比自己強; 各人不要單顧自己的事,也要顧別人的事。 你們應當有這樣的思想,這也是基督耶穌的思想。(全節或譯:“你們當以基督耶穌的心為心。”) 他本來有 神的形象,卻不堅持自己與 神平等的地位, 反而倒空自己,取了奴僕的形象,成為人的樣式; 既然有人的樣子,就自甘卑微,順服至死,而且死在十字架上。 因此 神把他升為至高,並且賜給他超過萬名之上的名。 10 使天上、地上和地底下的一切,因著耶穌的名,都要屈膝, 11 並且口裡承認耶穌基督為主,使榮耀歸給父 神。

顯出生命之道

12 這樣看來,我所親愛的,你們素來是順服的,(不但我在你們那裡的時候是這樣,現今我不在,你們更要順服,)就應當恐懼戰兢地作成自己的救恩。 13  神為了成全自己的美意,就在你們裡面動工,使你們可以立志和行事。 14 無論作甚麼,都不要發怨言、起爭論, 15 好使你們無可指摘、純真無邪,在這彎曲乖謬的世代中,作 神沒有瑕疵的兒女;你們要在這世代中發光,好像天上的光體一樣, 16 把生命的道顯揚出來,使我在基督的日子可以誇耀我沒有空跑,也沒有徒勞。 17 即使把我澆奠在你們信心的祭物和供奉上,我也喜樂,並且和你們大家一同喜樂。 18 照樣,你們也要喜樂,並且要和我一同喜樂。

提摩太的為人

19 我靠著主耶穌,希望不久就會差提摩太到你們那裡去,使我們知道你們的情況,可以得到鼓勵。 20 沒有人與我同心,真正關心你們的事, 21 因為大家只顧自己的事,而不理耶穌基督的事。 22 不過,你們知道提摩太已證明了他的為人,他和我一同為了福音服事主,就像兒子跟父親一樣。 23 所以,等我看出自己的事會怎樣了結之後,我希望立刻差他去; 24 而且靠著主,我相信自己不久也會去。

忠心侍候的以巴弗提

25 然而我認為必須差以巴弗提到你們那裡去,他是我的弟兄,與我一同作工一同作戰的,也是你們為我的需要差來服事我的。 26 他一直在想念你們眾人,並且因為你們聽見他病了,他就非常難過。 27 事實上他病得幾乎要死,然而 神憐憫了他;不但憐憫他,也憐憫我,免得我憂上加憂。 28 所以,我更急著差他去,讓你們再見到他,就可以喜樂,也可以減少我的掛慮。 29 因此,你們要在主裡歡歡喜喜地接待他,也要尊重這樣的人, 30 因他為了基督的工作,冒著生命的危險,差一點喪了命,為的是要補滿你們服事我不足的地方。

Unity Through Humility

Therefore if there is any [a]consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any (A)affection and mercy, (B)fulfill my joy (C)by being like-minded, having the same love, being of (D)one accord, of one mind. (E)Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but (F)in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (G)Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of (H)others.

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

(I)Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, (J)being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, (K)but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form (L)of a bondservant, and (M)coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and (N)became (O)obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (P)Therefore God also (Q)has highly exalted Him and (R)given Him the name which is above every name, 10 (S)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, 11 and (T)that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Light Bearers

12 Therefore, my beloved, (U)as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, (V)work out your own salvation with (W)fear and trembling; 13 for (X)it is God who works in you both to will and to do (Y)for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things (Z)without [d]complaining and (AA)disputing,[e] 15 that you may become blameless and [f]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as (AB)lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that (AC)I may rejoice in the day of Christ that (AD)I have not run in vain or labored in (AE)vain.

17 Yes, and if (AF)I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice (AG)and service of your faith, (AH)I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy Commended

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send (AI)Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your [g]state. 20 For I have no one (AJ)like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, (AK)that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

Epaphroditus Praised

25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you (AL)Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and (AM)fellow soldier, (AN)but your messenger and (AO)the one who ministered to my need; 26 (AP)since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For 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. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, [h]not regarding his life, (AQ)to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:1 Or encouragement
  2. Philippians 2:6 Or something to be held onto to be equal
  3. Philippians 2:7 emptied Himself of His privileges
  4. Philippians 2:14 grumbling
  5. Philippians 2:14 arguing
  6. Philippians 2:15 innocent
  7. Philippians 2:19 condition
  8. Philippians 2:30 risking

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(A) if any tenderness and compassion,(B) then make my joy complete(C) by being like-minded,(D) having the same love, being one(E) in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(G) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(H)

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

Who, being in very nature[a] God,(J)
    did not consider equality with God(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(L)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(M)
    being made in human likeness.(N)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(O)
        even death on a cross!(P)

Therefore God exalted him(Q) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(R)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(S)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(T)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(U)
    to the glory of God the Father.

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,(V) 13 for it is God who works in you(W) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(X)

14 Do everything without grumbling(Y) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(Z) and pure, “children of God(AA) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c](AB) 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(AC) that I did not run(AD) or labor in vain.(AE) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(AF) on the sacrifice(AG) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(AH) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(AI) to you soon,(AJ) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(AK) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(AL) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(AM) 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.(AN) 24 And I am confident(AO) 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(AP) and fellow soldier,(AQ) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(AR) 26 For he longs for all of you(AS) 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,(AT) 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,(AU) 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.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form
  3. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5