Philippians 2

Christ’s Example of Humility

2So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from ^flove, any ^gparticipation in the Spirit, any ^haffection and sympathy, ²ⁱcomplete my joy by being ^jof the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³Do nothing from ^kselfish ambition or ^lconceit, but in ^mhumility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you ⁿlook not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ^5oHave this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,^{1 6p}who, though he was in ^qthe form of God, did not count equality with God ^ra thing to be grasped,^{2 7}but ^semptied himself, by taking the form of a ^tservant,^{3 u}being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by ^vbecoming obedient to the point of death, ^weven death on a cross. ^9xTherefore ^yGod has ^zhighly exalted him and bestowed on him ^athe name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus ^bevery knee should bow, ^cin heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and ^devery tongue confess that Jesus Christ is ^eLord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

¹²Therefore, my beloved, ^fas you have always ^gobeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for ^hit is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ⁱhis good pleasure.

¹⁴Do all things ^jwithout grumbling or ^kdisputing, ¹⁵that you may be blameless and innocent, ^lchildren of God ^mwithout blemish ⁿin the midst of ^oa crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine ^pas lights in the world, ¹⁶holding fast to ^qthe word of life, so that in ^rthe day of Christ ^sI may be proud that ^tI did not run in vain or labor in vain. ¹⁷Even if I am to be ^upoured out as a drink offering upon ^vthe sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹I hope in the Lord Jesus ^wto send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. ²⁰For I have no one ^xlike him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. ²¹For they all ^yseek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know Timothy’s^{4 z}proven worth, how ^aas a son⁵ with a father ^bhe has served with me in the gospel. ²³I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, ²⁴and ^cI trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

²⁵I have thought it necessary to send to you ^dEpaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and ^efellow soldier, and your messenger and ^fminister to my need, ²⁶for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. ²⁷Indeed 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. ²⁸I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. ²⁹So ^greceive him in the Lord with all joy, and ^hhonor such men, ³⁰for he nearly died^{6 i}for the work of Christ, risking his life ^jto complete what was lacking in your service to me.