[1] If then there is any comfort in Christ, any help given by love, any
uniting of hearts in the Spirit, any loving mercies and pity, [2] Make my
joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in
harmony and of one mind; [3] Doing nothing through envy or through pride,
but with low thoughts of self let everyone take others to be better than
himself; [4] Not looking everyone to his private good, but keeping in mind
the things of others. [5] Let this mind be in you which was in Christ
Jesus, [6] To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that
to take for oneself was to be like God; [7] But he made himself as nothing,
taking the form of a servant, being made like men; [8] And being seen in
form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death,
even the death of the cross. [9] For this reason God has put him in the
highest place and has given to him the name which is greater than every
name; [10] So that at the name of Jesus every knee may be bent, of those in
heaven and those on earth and those in the underworld, [11] And that every
tongue may give witness that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. [12] So then, my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I
say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you,
give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts;
[13] For it is God who is the cause of your desires and of your acts, for
his good pleasure. [14] Do all things without protests and arguments; [15]
So that you may be holy and gentle, children of God without sin in a
twisted and foolish generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the
world, [16] Offering the word of life; so that I may have glory in you in
the day of Christ, because my running was not for nothing and my work was
not without effect. [17] And even if I am offered like a drink offering,
giving myself for the cause and work of your faith, I am glad and have joy
with you all: [18] And in the same way do you be glad and have a part in my
joy. [19] But I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before
long, so that I may be comforted when I have news of you. [20] For I have
no man of like mind who will truly have care for you. [21] For they all go
after what is theirs, not after the things of Christ. [22] But his quality
is clear to you; how, as a child is to its father, so he was a help to me
in the work of the good news. [23] Him then I am hoping to send as quickly
as possible, when I am able to see how things will go for me: [24] But I
have faith in the Lord that I myself will come before long. [25] But it
seemed to me necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, who has
taken part with me in the work and in the fight, and your servant, sent by
you for help in my need; [26] Because his heart was with you all, and he
was greatly troubled because you had news that he was ill: [27] For in fact
he was ill almost to death: but God had mercy on him; and not only on him
but on me, so that I might not have grief on grief. [28] I have sent him,
then, the more gladly, so that when you see him again, you may be happy and
I may have the less sorrow. [29] So take him to your hearts in the Lord
with all joy, and give honour to such as he is: [30] Because for the work
of Christ he was near to death, putting his life in danger to make your
care for me complete.
