Book of Common Prayer

He exhorts them to unite in brotherly love, and to beware of rivalry and vainglory. For a trustworthy example, he sets Christ before them.

2 If there is among you any consolation in Christ, if there is any comforting love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if there is any compassion or mercy, ² fulfil my joy and all draw one way, having one love and being of one accord and of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through rivalry or vainglory, but in meekness of mind let everyone esteem the other better than himself. ⁴ And look not every person on his own things, but every person on the things of others.

⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be equal to God, ⁷ but made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant, and became like humankind, ⁸ and was found in his appearance as a man. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ For this God has exalted him, and given him a name above all names, ¹⁰ so that in the name of Jesus every knee will bow, both of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth, ¹¹ and so that all tongues will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The time and place of Christ’s birth. The wise men offer their presents. Christ flees into Egypt. The young children are slain. Christ turns in to Galilee.

2 When Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, ² saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.

³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And he gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ And they said to him, At Bethlehem in Judea. For thus it is written by the prophet: ⁶ And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of you shall come the leader who will govern my people Israel.

⁷ Then Herod privately called the wise men and carefully enquired of them when the star had appeared, ⁸ and sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child. And when you have found him, bring me word so that I may come and worship him also.

⁹ When they had heard the king, they departed. And lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were marvellously glad, ¹¹ and went into the house and found the child with Mary his mother, and kneeled down and worshipped him, and opened their treasures and offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And after they were warned by God in a dream that they should not go again to Herod, they returned into their own country another way.