Philippians 2
English Standard Version
Christ's Example of Humility
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from (A)love, any (B)participation in the Spirit, any (C)affection and sympathy, 2 (D)complete my joy by being (E)of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from (F)selfish ambition or (G)conceit, but in (H)humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you (I)look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 (J)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 (K)who, though he was in (L)the form of God, did not count equality with God (M)a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but (N)emptied himself, by taking the form of a (O)servant,[c] (P)being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by (Q)becoming obedient to the point of death, (R)even death on a cross. 9 (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
- Philippians 2:5 Or which was also in Christ Jesus
- Philippians 2:6 Or a thing to be held on to for advantage
- Philippians 2:7 Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
- Philippians 2:22 Greek his
- Philippians 2:22 Greek child
- Philippians 2:30 Or he drew near to the point of death; compare verse 8
Philippians 2
Complete Jewish Bible
2 Therefore, if you have any encouragement for me from your being in union with the Messiah, any comfort flowing from love, any fellowship with me in the Spirit, or any compassion and sympathy, 2 then complete my joy by having a common purpose and a common love, by being one in heart and mind. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves — 4 look out for each other’s interests and not just for your own.
5 Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Yeshua:
6 Though he was in the form of God,
he did not regard equality with God
something to be possessed by force.
7 On the contrary, he emptied himself,
in that he took the form of a slave
by becoming like human beings are.
And when he appeared as a human being,
8 he humbled himself still more
by becoming obedient even to death —
death on a stake as a criminal!
9 Therefore God raised him to the highest place
and gave him the name above every name;
10 that in honor of the name given Yeshua,
every knee will bow —
in heaven, on earth and under the earth —
11 and every tongue will acknowledge[a]
that Yeshua the Messiah is Adonai —
to the glory of God the Father.
12 So, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey now when I am away from you: keep working out your deliverance with fear and trembling,[b] 13 for God is the one working among you both the willing and the working for what pleases him. 14 Do everything without kvetching or arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure children of God, without defect in the midst of a twisted and perverted generation,[c] among whom you shine like stars in the sky, 16 as you hold on to the Word of Life. If you do this, I will be able to boast, when the Day of the Messiah comes, that I did not run or toil for nothing. 17 Indeed, even if my lifeblood is poured out as a drink offering over the sacrifice and service of your faith, I will still be glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise, you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
19 But I hope in the Lord Yeshua to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I too may be cheered by knowing how you are doing. 20 I have no one who compares with him, who will care so sincerely for your welfare — 21 people all put their own interests ahead of the Messiah Yeshua’s. 22 But you know his character, that like a child with his father he slaved with me to advance the Good News. 23 So I hope to send him just as soon as I see how things will go with me, 24 and I am confident in the Lord that before long I myself will come too.
25 Also I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, the emissary whom you sent to take care of my needs; 26 since he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, close to death; but God had mercy on him — and not only on him, but also on me — otherwise I would have had sorrow piled on sorrow. 28 Therefore, I am all the more eager to send him, so that you may rejoice when you see him again; and I, for my part, may be less sad. 29 So give him a joyful welcome in the Lord; honor such people. 30 For he risked his life and nearly died working for the Messiah, in order to give me the help you were not in a position to give.
Footnotes
- Philippians 2:11 Isaiah 45:23
- Philippians 2:12 Psalm 2:11
- Philippians 2:15 Deuteronomy 32:5
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.