14 Do everything without grumbling(A) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(B) and pure, “children of God(C) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[a](D) 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(E) that I did not run(F) or labor in vain.(G) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(H) on the sacrifice(I) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(J) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(K) to you soon,(L) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(M) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(N) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(O) 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.(P) 24 And I am confident(Q) 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(R) and fellow soldier,(S) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(T) 26 For he longs for all of you(U) 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,(V) 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,(W) 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.(X)

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5

14 Do all things without murmuring and arguing,(A) 15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world,(B) 16 holding forth the word of life so that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.(C)

17 But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the service of your faith, I rejoice, and I rejoice together with all of you;(D) 18 in the same way also you should rejoice and rejoice together with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I, too, may be consoled by news of you. 20 I have no one so like myself who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.(E) 22 But Timothy’s[a] worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.(F) 23 I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.

25 Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and coworker and fellow soldier, your messenger[b] and minister to my need,(G) 26 for he has been longing for[c] all of you and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again and that I may be less anxious. 29 Welcome him, then, in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people,(H) 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ,[d] risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.

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Footnotes

  1. 2.22 Gk his
  2. 2.25 Gk apostle
  3. 2.26 Other ancient authorities read longing to see
  4. 2.30 Other ancient authorities read of the Lord