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So oun if ei there is any tis encouragement paraklēsis in en Christ Christos, if ei any tis comfort paramythion from love agapē, if ei any tis fellowship koinōnia in the Spirit pneuma, if ei any tis affection splanchnon and kai compassion oiktirmos, make plēroō my egō · ho joy chara complete by hina · ho being like-minded autos, having echō the ho same autos love agapē, united sympsychos in spirit , with a ho single heis purpose phroneō. Do nothing mēdeis out kata of selfish ambition eritheia or mēde vain conceit kenodoxia, but alla in ho humility tapeinophrosynē consider hēgeomai others allēlōn more important hyperechō than yourselves heautou. Each person hekastos should look out skopeō not only for his own heautou interests ho, but alla also kai for the ho interests of others heteros. Your hymeis attitude phroneō toward one another should be the same houtos as kai that hos of en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, who hos, although he was hyparchō in en the form morphē of God theos, did hēgeomai not ou regard hēgeomai equality isos with God theos a thing to be eimi grasped harpagmos, but alla emptied kenoō himself heautou, taking on lambanō the form morphē of a servant, being born ginomai in en the likeness homoiōma of man anthrōpos. And kai being found heuriskō in appearance schēma as hōs a man anthrōpos he humbled tapeinoō himself heautou, becoming ginomai obedient hypēkoos to the point mechri of death thanatos, even de death thanatos on a cross stauros! Therefore dio · kai · ho God theos has highly exalted hyperypsoō him autos and kai bestowed charizomai on him autos the ho name onoma that ho is above hyper every pas name onoma, 10 so that hina at en the ho name onoma of Jesus Iēsous every pas knee gony should bow kamptō, in heaven epouranios, and kai on earth epigeios and kai under the earth katachthonios, 11 and kai every pas tongue glōssa confess exomologeomai that hoti Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos is Lord kyrios, to eis the glory doxa of God theos the Father patēr.

12 So then hōste, my egō dear friends agapētos, just as kathōs you have always pantote obeyed hypakouō, not only monon in en · ho my egō presence parousia but alla even polys more mallon now nyn in en · ho my egō absence apousia, continue to work out katergazomai your heautou salvation sōtēria with meta fear phobos and kai trembling tromos, · ho 13 for gar it is eimi God theos who ho is at work energeō in en you hymeis, both kai to will thelō and kai to work energeō on behalf hyper of his ho good pleasure eudokia. 14 Do poieō all pas things without chōris grumbling gongysmos or kai arguing dialogismos, 15 so that hina you may be ginomai blameless amemptos and kai innocent akeraios, children teknon of God theos above reproach in the midst mesos of a crooked skolios and kai perverse diastrephō generation genea, among en whom hos you shine phainō like hōs stars phōstēr in en the universe kosmos, 16 holding fast epechō the word logos of life zōē, so that eis I egō may have reason to boast kauchēma on eis the day hēmera of Christ Christos that hoti I did trechō not ou run trechō in eis vain kenos or oude labor kopiaō in eis vain kenos. 17 But alla even kai if ei I am to be poured spendō out as a drink offering upon epi the ho sacrifice thusia and kai service leitourgia of ho your hymeis faith pistis, I am glad chairō and kai rejoice synchairō with all pas of you hymeis. 18 Likewise ho de · de you hymeis also kai should be glad chairō and kai rejoice synchairō with me egō.

19 I hope elpizō · de in en the Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous to send pempō Timothy Timotheos to you hymeis soon tacheōs, so that hina I too kagō may be encouraged eupsycheō by news ginōskō · ho about peri you hymeis. 20 For gar I have echō no one else oudeis of like mind isopsychos who hostis will be merimnaō genuinely gnēsiōs concerned merimnaō for peri your hymeis welfare ho. 21 For gar they ho all pas look out for zēteō their own heautou interests ho, not ou for those ho of Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos. 22 · ho But de you know ginōskō Timothy’ s autos proven character dokimē, how hoti as hōs a child teknon with his father patēr he served douleuō with syn me egō in the furtherance eis of the ho gospel euangelion. 23 Therefore oun I hope elpizō to send pempō him houtos just as soon exautēs as hōs I see aphoraō how things ho will turn out for peri me egō; 24 and de I trust peithō in en the Lord kyrios that hoti I erchomai myself autos also kai will be coming erchomai soon tacheōs. 25 In the meantime de I think hēgeomai it necessary anankaios to send pempō to pros you hymeis Epaphroditus Epaphroditos, · ho my egō brother adelphos, · kai fellow worker synergos, and kai fellow soldier systratiōtēs, as well as de your hymeis messenger apostolos and kai minister leitourgos to ho my egō need chreia, 26 because epeidē he has been eimi longing epipotheō for all pas of you hymeis and kai has been distressed adēmoneō because dioti you heard akouō that hoti he was ill astheneō. 27 Indeed kai gar he was ill astheneō; he almost paraplēsios died thanatos. But alla · ho God theos had mercy eleeō on him autos, and de not ou only monon on him autos but alla on me egō as well kai, so that hina I would echō not have echō sorrow lypē upon epi sorrow lypē. 28 Therefore oun I am all the more eager spoudaiōs to send pempō him autos, so that hina when you see him autos again palin you may rejoice chairō and I kagō may eimi no longer be eimi anxious alypos. 29 Therefore oun welcome prosdechomai him autos in en the Lord kyrios with meta great pas joy chara, and kai hold echō · ho such toioutos men in honor entimos, 30 because hoti he came close engizō to mechri death thanatos for dia the ho work ergon of Christ Christos, risking paraboleuomai his ho life psychē to hina make up anaplēroō for the ho help leitourgia · ho you hymeis were not able hysterēma to give pros me egō.

Be Like Christ

Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same [a]love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus [b]every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(A) 11 and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] [c]God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.

14 Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], 15 so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness], 16 holding out and offering to everyone the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to rejoice greatly because I did not run [my race] in vain nor labor without result. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a [d]drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith [for preaching the message of salvation], still I rejoice and share my joy with you all.(B) 18 You too, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may also be encouraged by learning news about you. 20 For I have no one else [like him who is] so kindred a spirit who will be genuinely concerned for your [spiritual] welfare. 21 For the others [who deserted me after my arrest] all seek [to advance] their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know of Timothy’s tested worth and his proven character, that he has served with me to advance the gospel like a son serving with his father. 23 Therefore, I hope [that it is His will] to send him immediately, just as soon as I see how [e]my case turns out; 24 and I trust [confidently] in the Lord that soon I also will be coming to you. 25 However, I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, [who has been] my brother and companion and fellow soldier, who was also sent as your messenger to take care of my needs. 26 For he has been longing [f]for all of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 He certainly was sick and close to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 So I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. 29 Welcome him home in the Lord with great joy, and appreciate and honor men like him; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me [which distance prevented you from rendering personally].

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:2 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.
  2. Philippians 2:10 All intelligent beings in the universe, whether saved or unsaved, whether in spirit or as mortal mankind, will acknowledge Him.
  3. Philippians 2:13 God supports the believer, but it is the believer’s responsibility to do what he has been called by God to do.
  4. Philippians 2:17 The drink offering (wine) was required as part of the sacrificial system of the old covenant.
  5. Philippians 2:23 Lit things go with me. This letter to the Philippians was written near the end of Paul’s two-year period of imprisonment in Rome. This was the first of his two Roman imprisonments. At this time he was under house arrest and was living in his own rented home. About five years after his release he was imprisoned again. Emperor Nero was actively persecuting the Christians during this period, so Paul was held in the Mamertine dungeon (Tullianum). Shortly before his execution Paul wrote his second and final letter to Timothy from his cell in Rome.
  6. Philippians 2:26 One early ms reads to see you all.