效法基督

所以,如果你們在基督裡受到鼓勵,得到愛的安慰,與聖靈相通,有慈悲和憐憫之心, 就要同心合意,彼此相愛,靈裡合一,思想一致,好讓我的喜樂更充足。 凡事不可自私自利、愛慕虛榮,要心存謙卑,看別人比自己強。 各人不要只顧自己的事,也要為別人的需要著想。 你們應當有基督耶穌那樣的心腸。

祂雖然本質上是上帝,
卻沒有緊緊抓住自己與上帝平等的地位不放,
反而甘願放下一切,
取了奴僕的形像,
降生為人的樣子。
祂以人的樣子出現後,
就自願卑微,順服至死,
而且死在十字架上。
因此,上帝將祂升為至尊,
賜給祂超乎萬名之上的名,
10 使一切天上的、
地上的和地底下的,
無不屈膝跪拜在耶穌的名下,
11 無不口稱耶穌基督是主,
將榮耀歸於父上帝。

暗世明燈

12 所以,我親愛的弟兄姊妹,既然我在你們那裡的時候,你們一向都很順服;如今我不在你們那裡,你們更要順服,要戰戰兢兢地活出得救後應有的生命。 13 因為你們立志和行事都是上帝在你們心中工作,為要成就祂美好的旨意。

14 無論做什麼事,都不要抱怨,也不要與人爭論, 15 好使你們在這個彎曲敗壞的時代中無可指責、誠實無偽,作上帝純潔無瑕的兒女,如同明光照耀在世上, 16 堅守生命之道。這樣,到了基督再來的時候,我可以誇口自己沒有空跑一場,也沒有白費功夫。 17 你們的信心就是獻給上帝的事奉和祭物,即使在上面澆奠我的生命,我也很喜樂,並且和你們大家一同喜樂。 18 同樣,你們也要喜樂,要和我一同喜樂。

保羅的得力同工

19 如果主耶穌許可,我希望儘快派提摩太去你們那裡,我好知道你們的近況,心裡得到安慰。 20 因為沒有人像他那樣跟我一同真正關心你們的事。 21 別人都只顧自己的事,並不關心耶穌基督的事。 22 但你們知道提摩太的為人,我與他情同父子,一起事奉和傳揚福音。 23 所以,我的案子一旦明朗了,我會立刻派他去見你們。 24 我深信如果主許可,我自己很快也會去你們那裡。

25 另外,我覺得有必要讓以巴弗提回到你們那裡。他是我的弟兄、同工和戰友,也是你們差遣來服侍我、供應我需用的。 26 他很想念你們,並且感到不安,因為你們聽說了他患病的事。 27 他確實病了,幾乎喪命;但上帝憐憫了他,不但憐憫他,也憐憫了我,沒讓我憂上加憂。 28 所以,我想儘快派他回去與你們相聚,好讓你們喜樂,也可以減少我的掛慮。 29 你們要在主裡歡歡喜喜地接待他,而且要敬重像他這樣的人。 30 他為了基督的工作,將生死置之度外,幾乎喪命,以彌補你們服侍我的不足之處。

团结一致,互相关心

那么,在基督之中,你们是否受到了鼓励,是否有发自爱的安慰,是否共享着圣灵,是否有温情和仁慈? 如果你们具备这些,会令我非常高兴。我要求你们心往一处想,彼此相爱,一心一意,抱有共同的目标。 做任何事情都不要出于自私自利和骄傲自大,要谦卑,要视他人高于自己。 不要只顾自己的利益,也要关心别人的利益。

学习基督的无私

在生活中,你们要想耶稣基督之所想。

虽然基督在本质上就是上帝,但他没有认为与上帝平等是用作自己优越的事情。

相反,他放弃了一切,取了奴隶的本性,和人类一样。 当他在外表变得和人类一样时,他自甘卑微,甚至顺服到了死的地步,不惜死在十字架上。

所以上帝抬举他到了最高的地位,把他的名字凌驾于所有的名字之上, 10 好让众生都拜倒在耶稣名下,不论是在天堂、地上、还是地下, 11 并让所有的人都承认耶稣基督是主,这将给父上帝带来荣耀。

成为上帝期待的人

12 所以,我亲爱的朋友,要像你们一贯遵从我的指示那样,不仅仅你们和我在一起时这么做,当我不在你们那里时更要如此。要怀着敬畏的心情,为彻底完成你们的拯救继续工作。 13 上帝在你们中间工作着,他不但帮助你们去做令他喜悦的事情,而且还赐给你们做这些事情的能力。

14 做任何事情都不要抱怨与争吵, 这样你们在这腐败、堕落的一代人中,就能成为上帝的清白、纯洁和无可指摘的子女。你们向他们传播带来生命的信息,在这个黑暗世界里就犹如闪耀的明灯。这样,在基督重返那天,当我看到自己的工作没有白费,我便可以为你们而感到自豪。

17 你们的信仰使你们献出自己的生命做为祭献,为上帝服务。也许我将与你们的祭献一同抛撒热血。如果这一切发生了,我会非常快乐,并且还要与你们所有的人分享我的喜悦; 18 同样,你们也要快乐,并且与我分享你们的喜悦。

提摩太和以巴弗提的消息

19 我希望在主耶稣的帮助下,很快便派提摩太到你们那里去,以便能得到你们的消息,使我受到鼓舞。 20 他是我要派去的人,因为他是唯一与我同心并真正关心你们利益的人。 21 其他的人追求的只是他们自己的利益,而不是耶稣基督的利益。 22 你们了解提摩太的品格,他像儿子侍奉父亲那样,和我一起深入传播福音。 23 一旦我知道自己事情的结局后,便立即派他到你们那里去。 24 我相信,在上帝的帮助下我自己很快也会去的。

25 我还认为有必要派以巴弗提回到你们那里去。他是我的兄弟、同事、战友。他代表你们,在我需要时帮助了我。他一直渴望见到你们,我便决定派他去。 26 他还因为你们听说他患病的消息而感到难过。 27 他的确病了,几乎死去,但上帝怜悯他。上帝不仅怜悯他,也怜悯我,使我没有遭受到更大的忧伤。 28 所以我更急切要派他去,让你们看到他,使你们能高兴起来,这也可以消除我的忧伤。 29 要在主内欢欢喜喜地欢迎他,要敬重这样的人, 30 他为了基督的工作几乎死掉。他冒着生命危险弥补了你们无法给予我的帮助。

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

Be United and Care for Each Other

Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. If you enjoy these blessings, then do what will make my joy complete: Agree with each other, and show your love for each other. Be united in your goals and in the way you think. In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.

Learn From Christ to Be Unselfish

In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought.

He was like God in every way,
    but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit.
Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God.
    He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form.
During his life as a man,
    he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God,
    even when that caused his death—death on a cross.
So God raised him up to the most important place
    and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.
10 God did this so that every person will bow down to honor the name of Jesus.
    Everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow.
11 They will all confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord,”
    and this will bring glory to God the Father.

Be the People God Wants You to Be

12 My dear friends, you always obeyed what you were taught. Just as you obeyed when I was with you, it is even more important for you to obey now that I am not there. So you must continue to live in a way that gives meaning to your salvation. Do this with fear and respect for God. 13 Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it.

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing 15 so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world, 16 and you offer them the teaching that gives life. So I can be proud of you when Christ comes again. You will show that my work was not wasted—that I ran in the race and won.

17 Your faith makes you give your lives as a sacrifice in serving God. Maybe I will have to offer my own life with your sacrifice. But if that happens, I will be glad, and I will share my joy with all of you. 18 You also should be glad and share your joy with me.

News About Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 With the blessing of the Lord Jesus, I hope I will be able to send Timothy to you soon. I will be glad to learn how you are. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares for you. 21 Others are interested only in their own lives. They don’t care about the work of Christ Jesus. 22 You know the kind of person Timothy is. He has served with me in telling the Good News like a son with his father. 23 I plan to send him to you quickly, as soon as I know what will happen to me. 24 I am sure the Lord will help me come to you soon.

25 For now, I think I must send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother in God’s family, who works and serves with me in the Lord’s army. When I needed help, you sent him to me, 26 but now he wants very much to see all of you again. He is worried because you heard that he was sick. 27 He was sick and near death. But God helped him and me too, so that I would not have even more grief. 28 So I want very much to send him to you. When you see him, you can be happy. And I can stop worrying about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with much joy. Give honor to people like Epaphroditus. 30 He should be honored because he almost died for the work of Christ. He put his life in danger so that he could help me. This was help that you could not give me.