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Philippians 2
International Standard Version

Unity through Humility

2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in the Messiah,[a] if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship in the Spirit, if there is any compassion and sympathy, 2 then fill me with joy by having the same attitude, sharing the same love, being united in spirit, and keeping one purpose in mind. 3 Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves. 4 Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about[b] the interests of others. 5 Have the same attitude among yourselves[c] that was also in the Messiah[d] Jesus:[e]

6 In God’s own form existed he,
    and shared with God equality,
        deemed nothing needed grasping.
7 Instead, poured out in emptiness,
    a servant’s form did he possess,
        a mortal man becoming.
In human form he chose to be,
8 and lived in all humility,
        death on a cross obeying.
9 Now lifted up by God to heaven,
    a name above all others given,
        this matchless name possessing.
10 And so, when Jesus’ name is called,
    the knees of everyone should fall,[f]
        wherever they’re residing.[g]
11 Then every tongue in one accord,
    will say that Jesus the Messiah[h] is Lord,
        while God the Father praising.

Blameless Living

12 And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing 15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, God’s children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I will be proud when the Messiah[i] returns[j] that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain.

17 Yet even if I am being poured out like an offering as part of the sacrifice and service I offer[k] for your faith, I rejoice, and I share my joy with all of you. 18 In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

News about Paul’s Companions

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I can be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 I do not have anyone else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For all the others look after their own interests, not after those of Jesus the Messiah.[l] 22 But you know his proven worth—how like a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things are going to turn out for me. 24 Indeed, I am confident in the Lord that I will come to visit you[m] soon.

25 Meanwhile, I thought it best to send Epaphroditus—my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need—back to you. 26 For he has been longing for[n] all of you and is troubled because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow on top of another.[o] 28 Therefore, I am especially eager to send him so that you may have the joy of seeing him again, and so that I may feel relieved. 29 So joyfully welcome him in the Lord and make sure you honor such people highly, 30 because he came close to death for the work of the Messiah[p] by risking his life to complete what remained unfinished in your service to me.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:1 Or Christ
  2. Philippians 2:4 The Gk. lacks be concerned about
  3. Philippians 2:5 Or Have this mind in you
  4. Philippians 2:5 Or Christ
  5. Philippians 2:5 Verses 6-11 probably represent an early Christian hymn.
  6. Philippians 2:10 Or every knee should bend
  7. Philippians 2:10 Lit. in heaven, on earth, and under the earth
  8. Philippians 2:11 Or Christ
  9. Philippians 2:16 Or Christ
  10. Philippians 2:16 Lit. will boast in the day of the Messiah
  11. Philippians 2:17 The Gk. lacks I offer
  12. Philippians 2:21 Or Christ
  13. Philippians 2:24 The Gk. lacks to visit you
  14. Philippians 2:26 Other mss. read longing to see
  15. Philippians 2:27 Lit. sorrow on sorrow
  16. Philippians 2:30 Or Christ; other mss. read Lord
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Philippians 2
New International Version

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 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) 2 then make my joy complete(C) by being like-minded,(D) having the same love, being one(E) in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(G) 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(H)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(I)

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,(J)
    did not consider equality with God(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing(L)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(M)
    being made in human likeness.(N)
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(O)—
        even death on a cross!(P)

9 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)

Footnotes

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