Christian Humility

If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,(A) if any fellowship with the Spirit,(B) if any affection and mercy,(C) make my joy complete by thinking the same way,(D) having the same love,(E) united in spirit, intent on one(F) purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition(G) or conceit,(H) but in humility(I) consider others as more important(J) than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests,(K) but rather to the interests of others.(L)

Christ’s Humility and Exaltation

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God(M)
as something to be exploited.[a]
Instead he emptied himself(N)
by assuming the form of a servant,(O)
taking on the likeness of humanity.(P)
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.(Q)
For this reason God highly exalted him(R)
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow(S)
in heaven(T) and on earth
and under the earth(U)
11 and every tongue(V) will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory(W) of God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my dear friends,(X) just as you have always obeyed,(Y) so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling(Z) and arguing,(AA) 15 so that you may be blameless(AB) and pure,(AC) children of God who are faultless(AD) in a crooked(AE) and perverted(AF) generation,(AG) among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word(AH) of life. Then I can boast(AI) in the day of Christ(AJ) that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out(AK) as a drink offering(AL) on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus(AM) to send Timothy(AN) to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. 20 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; 21 all seek their own interests,(AO) not those of Jesus Christ.(AP) 22 But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. 23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.(AQ)

25 But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus(AR)—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need(AS) 26 since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. 29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, 30 because he came close to death for the work(AT) of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

Footnotes

  1. 2:6 Or to be grasped, or to be held on to

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

Siguiendo el ejemplo de Cristo

Si alguna fuerza tiene una exhortación hecha en nombre de Cristo, si de algo sirve un consejo nacido del amor, si nos une el mismo Espíritu, si alienta en ustedes un corazón entrañable y compasivo, llénenme de alegría teniendo el mismo pensar, alimentando el mismo amor, viviendo en armonía, compartiendo los mismos sentimientos. No hagan nada por egoísmo o vanagloria; al contrario, sean humildes y consideren que los demás son mejores que ustedes. Que cada uno busque no su propio provecho, sino el de los otros. Compórtense como lo hizo Cristo Jesús,

el cual, siendo de condición divina
no quiso hacer de ello ostentación,
sino que se despojó de su grandeza,
asumió la condición de siervo
y se hizo semejante a los humanos.
Y asumida la condición humana,
se rebajó a sí mismo
hasta morir por obediencia,
y morir en una cruz.
Por eso, Dios lo exaltó sobremanera
y le otorgó el más excelso de los nombres,
10 para que todos los seres,
en el cielo, en la tierra y en los abismos,
caigan de rodillas ante el nombre de Jesús,
11 y todos proclamen que Jesucristo es Señor,
para gloria de Dios Padre.

Lumbreras en medio del mundo

12 Y puesto que siempre me han obedecido, queridos míos, ahora que estoy ausente, afánense con santo temor en lograr la propia salvación, con más empeño aún que si yo estuviese presente. 13 Es Dios mismo quien realiza en ustedes el querer y el hacer, más allá de la buena disposición que tengan.

14 Háganlo todo sin protestas ni discusiones. 15 Serán así irreprochables y sencillos, serán hijos de Dios, intachables en medio de gentes depravadas y perversas, y brillarán entre ellas como lumbreras que iluminan el mundo. 16 Mantengan con firmeza la palabra que es fuente de vida; así, el día en que Cristo se manifieste, podré enorgullecerme de no haber corrido en vano ni de haberme fatigado inútilmente. 17 Y aunque tuviera que sufrir el martirio como ofrenda sacrificial en favor de la fe que ustedes profesan, me sentiría dichoso compartiendo con todos ustedes mi alegría; 18 alégrense igualmente ustedes de compartir conmigo su alegría.

Timoteo y Epafrodito

19 Con la ayuda de Jesús, el Señor, confío en que podré enviarles cuanto antes a Timoteo para que, al tener noticias de ustedes, me sienta confortado. 20 Nadie como él comparte mis sentimientos ni se ocupa tan sinceramente de los asuntos de ustedes. 21 Todos, en efecto, buscan sus propios intereses y no los de Jesucristo; 22 pero en lo que respecta a Timoteo, ya conocen su excelente hoja de servicios, pues se ha portado conmigo en la tarea evangelizadora como un hijo con su padre. 23 Espero poder enviárselo tan pronto como vea claro el curso que toman mis cosas. 24 Y confío en que también yo, con la ayuda del Señor, iré pronto a visitarlos.

25 Entre tanto, me ha parecido necesario enviarles al hermano Epafrodito, colaborador y compañero mío de lucha, que vino como embajador de ustedes con la misión de socorrerme. 26 Los echaba mucho de menos y estaba inquieto sabiendo que se habían enterado de su enfermedad. 27 Es cierto que estuvo enfermo y a las puertas de la muerte; pero Dios se apiadó de él, y no sólo de él, sino también de mi, no queriendo añadir más tristeza a mi tristeza.

28 Así que me he apresurado a enviárselo para que, al verlo de nuevo, recobren ustedes su alegría y disminuya mi preocupación. 29 Acójanlo, pues, en el Señor, con alegría y estimen a quienes se portan como él; 30 pues, en efecto, por causa de Cristo ha estado a punto de morir, arriesgando su vida para suplir la ayuda que ustedes no podían prestarme.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.