¹⁹ for I know that ^(A)through your prayers and ^(B)the help of ^(C)the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope ^(D)that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full ^(E)courage now as always Christ ^(F)will be honored in my body, ^(G)whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me ^(H)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ^23 (I)I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is ^(J)to depart and ^(K)be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ^25 (L)Convinced of this, ^(M)I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your ^(N)progress and ^(O)joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that in me ^(P)you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only ^(Q)let your manner of life be ^(R)worthy^[a] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you ^(S)that you are standing firm in one spirit, with ^(T)one mind ^(U)striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is ^(V)a clear sign to them of their destruction, but ^(W)of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For ^(X)it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also ^(Y)suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same ^(Z)conflict that ^(AA)you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Christ's Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from ^(AB)love, any ^(AC)participation in the Spirit, any ^(AD)affection and sympathy, ^2 (AE)complete my joy by being ^(AF)of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from ^(AG)selfish ambition or ^(AH)conceit, but in ^(AI)humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you ^(AJ)look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ^5 (AK)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,^{[b] 6 (AL)}who, though he was in ^(AM)the form of God, did not count equality with God ^(AN)a thing to be grasped,^{[c] 7} but ^(AO)emptied himself, by taking the form of a ^(AP)servant,^{[d] (AQ)}being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by ^(AR)becoming obedient to the point of death, ^(AS)even death on a cross. ^9 (AT)Therefore ^(AU)God has ^(AV)highly exalted him and bestowed on him ^(AW)the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus ^(AX)every knee should bow, ^(AY)in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and ^(AZ)every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is ^(BA)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my beloved, ^(BB)as you have always ^(BC)obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for ^(BD)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ^(BE)his good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things ^(BF)without grumbling or ^(BG)disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, ^(BH)children of God ^(BI)without blemish ^(BJ)in the midst of ^(BK)a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine ^(BL)as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast to ^(BM)the word of life, so that in ^(BN)the day of Christ ^(BO)I may be proud that ^(BP)I did not run in vain or labor in vain. ¹⁷ Even if I am to be ^(BQ)poured out as a drink offering upon ^(BR)the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

^17 (A)And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, ¹⁸ “See, ^(B)we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will ^(C)condemn him to death ¹⁹ and ^(D)deliver him over to the Gentiles ^(E)to be mocked and flogged and ^(F)crucified, and he will be raised on ^(G)the third day.”

A Mother's Request

^20 (H)Then ^(I)the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and ^(J)kneeling before him she asked him for something. ²¹ And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine ^(K)are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, ^(L)in your kingdom.” ²² Jesus answered, ^(M)“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able ^(N)to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” ²³ He said to them, ^(O)“You will drink ^(P)my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, ^(Q)but it is for those for whom it has been ^(R)prepared by my Father.” ²⁴ And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to him and said, ^(S)“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles ^(T)lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ^26 (U)It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,^{[a] 27} and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,^{[b] 28} even as the Son of Man came not to be served but ^(V)to serve, and ^(W)to give his life as a ransom for ^(X)many.”