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Philippians 2
Lexham English Bible

Humility and Unity

2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 complete my joy, so that you are in agreement[a], having the same love, united in spirit, having one purpose[b]. 3 Do nothing according to selfish ambition or according to empty conceit, but in humility considering one another better than yourselves, 4 each of you[c] not looking out for your own interests[d], but also each of you for the interests[e] of others.

Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation

5 Think this in[f] yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God,
    did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself
    by[g] taking the form of a slave,
    by[h] becoming in the likeness of people.
And being found in appearance like a man,
8 he humbled himself
    by[i] becoming obedient to the point of death,
        that is, death on a cross.
9 Therefore also God exalted him
    and graciously granted him the name above every name,
10 so 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 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Holding Fast to the Word of Life

12 Therefore my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure, is God. 14 Do all things without grumbling and disputing, 15 in order that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault[j] in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as stars in the world,[k] 16 holding fast to the word of life, for a source of pride[l] to me in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and rejoice with all of you. 18 And in the same way also you rejoice and rejoice with me.

Timothy’s Proven Character

19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be encouraged when I[m] know your circumstances[n]. 20 For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely be concerned about your circumstances[o]. 21 For they all seek their own interests[p], not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven character, that like a child with a father he served with me for the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see my circumstances[q]. 24 And I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will arrive shortly also.

Epaphroditus’ Mission

25 But I considered it[r] necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your messenger and servant of my need, 26 because he was longing for all of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick, coming near to death, but God had mercy on him and not on him only, but also on me, so that I would not have grief upon grief. 28 Therefore I am sending him with special urgency, in order that when[s] you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. 29 Therefore welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and consider such people highly honored, 30 because on account of the work of Christ he came near to the point of death, risking his life in order that he might make up for your inability to serve me[t].

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:2 Literally “you think the same thing
  2. Philippians 2:2 Literally “thinking the one thing”
  3. Philippians 2:4 Some manuscripts have “each one of you”
  4. Philippians 2:4 Literally “the things of yourselves”
  5. Philippians 2:4 Literally “the things”
  6. Philippians 2:5 Or “among”
  7. Philippians 2:7 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“taking”) which is understood as means
  8. Philippians 2:7 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“becoming”) which is understood as means
  9. Philippians 2:8 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“becoming”) which is understood as means
  10. Philippians 2:15 Or “blameless”
  11. Philippians 2:15 Or possibly “in the universe”
  12. Philippians 2:16 Or “for a cause of boasting”
  13. Philippians 2:19 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as temporal
  14. Philippians 2:19 Literally “the things concerning you”
  15. Philippians 2:20 Literally “the things concerning you”
  16. Philippians 2:21 Literally “the things of themselves”
  17. Philippians 2:23 Literally “the things concerning me”
  18. Philippians 2:25 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  19. Philippians 2:28 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“see”) which is understood as temporal
  20. Philippians 2:30 Literally “he might fill up your lack of service to me”
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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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