Philippians 2:1-18

Common English Bible

Imitate Christ

2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, ²complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. ³Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. ⁴Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. ⁵Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:

⁶Though he was in the form of God,
        he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.
⁷But 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,
⁸        he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
        even death on a cross.
⁹Therefore, 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

¹²Therefore, 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. ¹³God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes. ¹⁴Do everything without grumbling and arguing ¹⁵so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world ¹⁶because you hold on to the word of life. This will allow me to say on the day of Christ that I haven’t run for nothing or worked for nothing. ¹⁷But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you. ¹⁸You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!