Do nothing out of selfish ambition(A) or conceit,(B) but in humility(C) consider others as more important(D) than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests,(E) but rather to the interests of others.(F)

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(G)
as something to be exploited.[a]
Instead he emptied himself(H)
by assuming the form of a servant,(I)
taking on the likeness of humanity.(J)
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.(K)
For this reason God highly exalted him(L)
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow(M)
in heaven(N) and on earth
and under the earth(O)
11 and every tongue(P) will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory(Q) of God the Father.

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Footnotes

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

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,[a]
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
    he took the humble position of a slave[c]
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:6 Or Being in the form of God.
  2. 2:7a Greek he emptied himself.
  3. 2:7b Or the form of a slave.
  4. 2:7c Some English translations put this phrase in verse 8.