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Imitating Christ’s Humility

If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy,(A) make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.(B) Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.(C) Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.(D) Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus,(E)

who, though he existed in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be grasped,(F)
but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,(G)
    he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.(H)

Therefore God exalted him even more highly
    and gave him the name
    that is above every other name,(I)
10 so that at the name given to Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(J)
11 and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.(K)

Shining as Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling,(L) 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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Footnotes

  1. 2.5 Or that you have

Imitate Christ

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:

Though he was in the form of God,
        he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.
But he emptied himself
        by taking the form of a slave
        and by becoming like human beings.
When he found himself in the form of a human,
        he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
        even death on a cross.
Therefore, God highly honored him
        and gave him a name above all names,
10     so that at the name of Jesus everyone
        in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow
11         and every tongue confess
            that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Carry out your salvation

12 Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes.

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