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

Christ's Example of Humility

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from (A)love, any (B)participation in the Spirit, any (C)affection and sympathy, (D)complete my joy by being (E)of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from (F)selfish ambition or (G)conceit, but in (H)humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you (I)look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (J)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] (K)who, though he was in (L)the form of God, did not count equality with God (M)a thing to be grasped,[b] but (N)emptied himself, by taking the form of a (O)servant,[c] (P)being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by (Q)becoming obedient to the point of death, (R)even death on a cross. (S)Therefore (T)God has (U)highly exalted him and bestowed on him (V)the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus (W)every knee should bow, (X)in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and (Y)every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is (Z)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, (AA)as you have always (AB)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 (AC)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for (AD)his good pleasure.

14 Do all things (AE)without grumbling or (AF)disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, (AG)children of God (AH)without blemish (AI)in the midst of (AJ)a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine (AK)as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to (AL)the word of life, so that in (AM)the day of Christ (AN)I may be proud that (AO)I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be (AP)poured out as a drink offering upon (AQ)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.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus (AR)to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one (AS)like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all (AT)seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's[d] (AU)proven worth, how (AV)as a son[e] with a father (AW)he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and (AX)I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you (AY)Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and (AZ)fellow soldier, and your messenger and (BA)minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So (BB)receive him in the Lord with all joy, and (BC)honor such men, 30 for he nearly died[f] (BD)for the work of Christ, risking his life (BE)to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:5 Or which was also in Christ Jesus
  2. Philippians 2:6 Or a thing to be held on to for advantage
  3. Philippians 2:7 Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
  4. Philippians 2:22 Greek his
  5. Philippians 2:22 Greek child
  6. Philippians 2:30 Or he drew near to the point of death; compare verse 8

Be like Christ

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any (A)fellowship of the Spirit, if any [a](B)affection and compassion, (C)make my joy complete [b]by (D)being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing [c]from [d](E)selfishness or (F)empty conceit, but with humility (G)consider one another as more important than yourselves; (H)do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (I)Have this attitude [e]in yourselves which was also in (J)Christ Jesus, who, as He already (K)existed in the (L)form of God, (M)did not consider equality with God something to be [f]grasped, but [g](N)emptied Himself by taking the form of a (O)bond-servant and [h](P)being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, (Q)He humbled Himself by becoming (R)obedient to the point of death: (S)death [i]on a cross. (T)For this reason also God (U)highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him (V)the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus (W)every knee will bow, of (X)those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is (Y)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, (Z)just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own (AA)salvation with (AB)fear and trembling; 13 for it is (AC)God who is at work in you, both to [j]desire and to work (AD)for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without (AE)complaining or arguments; 15 so that you will [k]prove yourselves to be (AF)blameless and innocent, (AG)children of God above reproach in the midst of a (AH)crooked and perverse generation, among whom you [l](AI)appear as [m]lights in the world, 16 holding firmly the word of life, so that on (AJ)the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not (AK)run in vain nor (AL)labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being (AM)poured out as a drink offering upon (AN)the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 But I hope, [n]in the Lord Jesus, to (AO)send (AP)Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 For I have no one else (AQ)of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all (AR)seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know (AS)of his proven character, that (AT)he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel (AU)like a child serving his father. 23 (AV)Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and (AW)I trust in the Lord that I myself will also be coming shortly. 25 But I thought it necessary to send to you (AX)Epaphroditus, my brother and (AY)fellow worker and (AZ)fellow soldier, who is also your [o](BA)messenger and (BB)minister to my need, 26 because he was longing [p]for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. 29 (BC)Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and (BD)hold people like him in high regard, 30 because he came close to death [q](BE)for the work of Christ, risking his life to (BF)compensate [r]for your absence in your service to me.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:1 Lit inward parts
  2. Philippians 2:2 Lit that you be
  3. Philippians 2:3 Lit according to
  4. Philippians 2:3 Or contentiousness
  5. Philippians 2:5 Or among
  6. Philippians 2:6 Or seized
  7. Philippians 2:7 I.e., set aside His divine rights
  8. Philippians 2:7 Or having come to be
  9. Philippians 2:8 Lit of
  10. Philippians 2:13 Or be willing
  11. Philippians 2:15 Or become
  12. Philippians 2:15 Or shine
  13. Philippians 2:15 Or luminaries, stars
  14. Philippians 2:19 Or trusting in
  15. Philippians 2:25 Lit apostle
  16. Philippians 2:26 One early ms to see you all
  17. Philippians 2:30 Lit because of
  18. Philippians 2:30 Lit your deficiency of service

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(A) if any tenderness and compassion,(B) then make my joy complete(C) by being like-minded,(D) having the same love, being one(E) in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(G) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(H)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(I)

Who, being in very nature[a] God,(J)
    did not consider equality with God(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(L)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(M)
    being made in human likeness.(N)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(O)
        even death on a cross!(P)

Therefore God exalted him(Q) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(R)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(S)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(T)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(U)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(V) 13 for it is God who works in you(W) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(X)

14 Do everything without grumbling(Y) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(Z) and pure, “children of God(AA) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c](AB) 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(AC) that I did not run(AD) or labor in vain.(AE) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(AF) on the sacrifice(AG) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(AH) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(AI) to you soon,(AJ) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(AK) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(AL) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(AM) 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.(AN) 24 And I am confident(AO) 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(AP) and fellow soldier,(AQ) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(AR) 26 For he longs for all of you(AS) 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,(AT) 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,(AU) 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.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form
  3. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5