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)

No Confidence in the Flesh

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,(AW) and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs,(AX) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision,(AY) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,(AZ) and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.(BA)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised(BB) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,(BC) of the tribe of Benjamin,(BD) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;(BE) as for zeal,(BF) persecuting the church;(BG) as for righteousness based on the law,(BH) faultless.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss(BI) for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing(BJ) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ(BK) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,(BL) but that which is through faith in[d] Christ—the righteousness(BM) that comes from God on the basis of faith.(BN) 10 I want to know(BO) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,(BP) becoming like him in his death,(BQ) 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection(BR) from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(BS) but I press on to take hold(BT) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(BU) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(BV) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(BW) toward the goal to win the prize(BX) for which God has called(BY) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature(BZ) should take such a view of things.(CA) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.(CB) 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example,(CC) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.(CD) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,(CE) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.(CF) 19 Their destiny(CG) is destruction, their god is their stomach,(CH) and their glory is in their shame.(CI) Their mind is set on earthly things.(CJ) 20 But our citizenship(CK) is in heaven.(CL) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,(CM) 21 who, by the power(CN) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies(CO) so that they will be like his glorious body.(CP)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,(CQ) my joy and crown, stand firm(CR) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind(CS) in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,(CT) whose names are in the book of life.(CU)

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form
  3. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5
  4. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of

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.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

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.

All for Christ

Finally, my brethren, (AR)rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

(AS)Beware of dogs, beware of (AT)evil workers, (AU)beware of the mutilation! For we are (AV)the circumcision, (AW)who worship [i]God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though (AX)I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I (AY)more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, (AZ)of the tribe of Benjamin, (BA)a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, (BB)a Pharisee; concerning zeal, (BC)persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But (BD)what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss (BE)for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having (BF)my own righteousness, which is from the law, but (BG)that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the (BH)power of His resurrection, and (BI)the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may (BJ)attain[j] to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already (BK)attained,[k] or am already (BL)perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [l]apprehended; but one thing I do, (BM)forgetting those things which are behind and (BN)reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 (BO)I press toward the goal for the prize of (BP)the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are (BQ)mature, (BR)have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, (BS)God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already [m]attained, (BT)let us walk (BU)by the same [n]rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

17 Brethren, (BV)join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as (BW)you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are (BX)the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 (BY)whose end is destruction, (BZ)whose god is their belly, and (CA)whose glory is in their shame—(CB)who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For (CC)our citizenship is in heaven, (CD)from which we also (CE)eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (CF)who will transform our lowly body that it may be (CG)conformed to His glorious body, (CH)according to the working by which He is able even to (CI)subdue all things to Himself.

Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts

Therefore, my beloved and (CJ)longed-for brethren, (CK)my joy and crown, so (CL)stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche (CM)to be of the same mind in the Lord. [o]And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who (CN)labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in (CO)the Book of Life.

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
  9. Philippians 3:3 NU, M in the Spirit of God
  10. Philippians 3:11 Lit. arrive at
  11. Philippians 3:12 obtained it
  12. Philippians 3:13 laid hold of it
  13. Philippians 3:16 arrived
  14. Philippians 3:16 NU omits rule and the rest of v. 16.
  15. Philippians 4:3 NU, M Yes