Unity Through Humility
1 Therefore ifthereisany consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if anyaffection and mercy,
2 fulfill my joyby being like-minded, having the same love,beingofone accord, of one mind.
3 Letnothingbedonethrough selfish ambition or conceit, butin lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests ofothers.
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who,being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the formof a bondservant,andcoming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself andbecameobedient tothepointofdeath, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God alsohas highly exalted Him andgiven Him the name which is above every name,
10 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 andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Light Bearers
12 Therefore, my beloved,as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,work out your own salvation withfear and trembling;
13 forit is God who works in you both to will and to doforHisgood pleasure.
14 Do all thingswithout complaining anddisputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine aslights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so thatI may rejoice in the day of Christ thatI have not run in vain or labored invain.
17 Yes, and ifI am being poured outasadrinkofferingon the sacrificeand service of your faith,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 sendTimothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
20 For I have no onelike-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,that as a son withhisfather 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 youEpaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, andfellow soldier,but your messenger andthe one who ministered to my need;
26 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, not regarding his life,to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.