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

ει τις ουν παρακλησις εν χριστω ει τι παραμυθιον αγαπης ει τις κοινωνια πνευματος ει τινα σπλαγχνα και οικτιρμοι

πληρωσατε μου την χαραν ινα το αυτο φρονητε την αυτην αγαπην εχοντες συμψυχοι το εν φρονουντες

μηδεν κατα εριθειαν η κενοδοξιαν αλλα τη ταπεινοφροσυνη αλληλους ηγουμενοι υπερεχοντας εαυτων

μη τα εαυτων εκαστος σκοπειτε αλλα και τα ετερων εκαστος

τουτο γαρ φρονεισθω εν υμιν ο και εν χριστω ιησου

ος εν μορφη θεου υπαρχων ουχ αρπαγμον ηγησατο το ειναι ισα θεω

αλλ εαυτον εκενωσεν μορφην δουλου λαβων εν ομοιωματι ανθρωπων γενομενος

και σχηματι ευρεθεις ως ανθρωπος εταπεινωσεν εαυτον γενομενος υπηκοος μεχρι θανατου θανατου δε σταυρου

διο και ο θεος αυτον υπερυψωσεν και εχαρισατο αυτω ονομα το υπερ παν ονομα

10 ινα εν τω ονοματι ιησου παν γονυ καμψη επουρανιων και επιγειων και καταχθονιων

11 και πασα γλωσσα εξομολογησηται οτι κυριος ιησους χριστος εις δοξαν θεου πατρος

12 ωστε αγαπητοι μου καθως παντοτε υπηκουσατε μη ως εν τη παρουσια μου μονον αλλα νυν πολλω μαλλον εν τη απουσια μου μετα φοβου και τρομου την εαυτων σωτηριαν κατεργαζεσθε

13 ο θεος γαρ εστιν ο ενεργων εν υμιν και το θελειν και το ενεργειν υπερ της ευδοκιας

14 παντα ποιειτε χωρις γογγυσμων και διαλογισμων

15 ινα γενησθε αμεμπτοι και ακεραιοι τεκνα θεου αμωμητα εν μεσω γενεας σκολιας και διεστραμμενης εν οις φαινεσθε ως φωστηρες εν κοσμω

16 λογον ζωης επεχοντες εις καυχημα εμοι εις ημεραν χριστου οτι ουκ εις κενον εδραμον ουδε εις κενον εκοπιασα

17 αλλ ει και σπενδομαι επι τη θυσια και λειτουργια της πιστεως υμων χαιρω και συγχαιρω πασιν υμιν

18 το δ αυτο και υμεις χαιρετε και συγχαιρετε μοι

19 ελπιζω δε εν κυριω ιησου τιμοθεον ταχεως πεμψαι υμιν ινα καγω ευψυχω γνους τα περι υμων

20 ουδενα γαρ εχω ισοψυχον οστις γνησιως τα περι υμων μεριμνησει

21 οι παντες γαρ τα εαυτων ζητουσιν ου τα του χριστου ιησου

22 την δε δοκιμην αυτου γινωσκετε οτι ως πατρι τεκνον συν εμοι εδουλευσεν εις το ευαγγελιον

23 τουτον μεν ουν ελπιζω πεμψαι ως αν απιδω τα περι εμε εξαυτης

24 πεποιθα δε εν κυριω οτι και αυτος ταχεως ελευσομαι

25 αναγκαιον δε ηγησαμην επαφροδιτον τον αδελφον και συνεργον και συστρατιωτην μου υμων δε αποστολον και λειτουργον της χρειας μου πεμψαι προς υμας

26 επειδη επιποθων ην παντας υμας και αδημονων διοτι ηκουσατε οτι ησθενησεν

27 και γαρ ησθενησεν παραπλησιον θανατω αλλ ο θεος αυτον ηλεησεν ουκ αυτον δε μονον αλλα και εμε ινα μη λυπην επι λυπη σχω

28 σπουδαιοτερως ουν επεμψα αυτον ινα ιδοντες αυτον παλιν χαρητε καγω αλυποτερος ω

29 προσδεχεσθε ουν αυτον εν κυριω μετα πασης χαρας και τους τοιουτους εντιμους εχετε

30 οτι δια το εργον του χριστου μεχρι θανατου ηγγισεν παραβουλευσαμενος τη ψυχη ινα αναπληρωση το υμων υστερημα της προς με λειτουργιας

If, then, any exhortation [is] in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

fulfil ye my joy, that ye may mind the same thing -- having the same love -- of one soul -- minding the one thing,

nothing in rivalry or vain-glory, but in humility of mind one another counting more excellent than yourselves --

each not to your own look ye, but each also to the things of others.

For, let this mind be in you that [is] also in Christ Jesus,

who, being in the form of God, thought [it] not robbery to be equal to God,

but did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made,

and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death -- death even of a cross,

wherefore, also, God did highly exalt him, and gave to him a name that [is] above every name,

10 that in the name of Jesus every knee may bow -- of heavenlies, and earthlies, and what are under the earth --

11 and every tongue may confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So that, my beloved, as ye always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling your own salvation work out,

13 for God it is who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14 All things do without murmurings and reasonings,

15 that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God, unblemished in the midst of a generation crooked and perverse, among whom ye do appear as luminaries in the world,

16 the word of life holding forth, for rejoicing to me in regard to a day of Christ, that not in vain did I run, nor in vain did I labour;

17 but if also I am poured forth upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and joy with you all,

18 because of this do ye also rejoice and joy with me.

19 And I hope, in the Lord Jesus, Timotheus to send quickly to you, that I also may be of good spirit, having known the things concerning you,

20 for I have no one like-minded, who sincerely for the things concerning you will care,

21 for the whole seek their own things, not the things of the Christ Jesus,

22 and the proof of him ye know, that as a child [serveth] a father, with me he did serve in regard to the good news;

23 him, indeed, therefore, I hope to send, when I may see through the things concerning me -- immediately;

24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall quickly come.

25 And I thought [it] necessary Epaphroditus -- my brother, and fellow-workman, and fellow-soldier, and your apostle and servant to my need -- to send unto you,

26 seeing he was longing after you all, and in heaviness, because ye heard that he ailed,

27 for he also ailed nigh to death, but God did deal kindly with him, and not with him only, but also with me, that sorrow upon sorrow I might not have.

28 The more eagerly, therefore, I did send him, that having seen him again ye may rejoice, and I may be the less sorrowful;

29 receive him, therefore, in the Lord, with all joy, and hold such in honour,

30 because on account of the work of the Christ he drew near to death, having hazarded the life that he might fill up your deficiency of service unto me.