Philippians 2:9–30

⁹So God lifted him up to the highest place.

He gave him the name that is above every name.

¹⁰When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone’s knee will bow to worship him.

Every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to worship him.

¹¹Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.

And God the Father will receive the glory.

Living Like Christ

¹²My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. ¹³God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose.

¹⁴Do everything without finding fault or arguing. ¹⁵Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault in a sinful and evil world. Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens. ¹⁶You shine as you hold out to them the word of life. So I can brag about you on the day Christ returns. I can be happy that I didn’t run or work for nothing.

¹⁷But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. I’m talking about the way you serve because you believe. Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you. ¹⁸So you too should be glad and joyful with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹I hope to send Timothy to you soon if the Lord Jesus allows it. Then I will be cheered up when I receive news about you. ²⁰I have no one else like Timothy. He truly cares about how you are doing.

²¹All the others are looking out for their own interests. They are not looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know that Timothy has proved himself. He has served with me like a son with his father in spreading the good news.

²³So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴And I’m sure I myself will come soon if the Lord allows it.

²⁵But I think it’s necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother in the Lord. He is a worker and a soldier of Christ together with me. He is also your messenger. You sent him to take care of my needs. ²⁶He longs for all of you. He is troubled because you heard he was sick.

²⁷He was very sick. In fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him. He also had mercy on me. God spared me sadness after sadness. ²⁸So I want even more to send him to you. Then when you see him again, you will be glad. And I won’t worry so much.

²⁹Welcome him as a brother in the Lord with great joy. Honor people like him. ³⁰He almost died for the work of Christ. He put his life in danger to make up for the help you couldn’t give me.