[1] If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of
love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and
compassion, [2] make my joy full, that you be of the same mind, having the
same love, being of one accord, of one mind; [3] doing nothing through
rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better
than himself; [4] each of you not just looking to his own things, but each
of you also to the things of others. [5] Have this in your mind, which was
also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, didn`t consider
it robbery to be equal with God, [7] but emptied himself, taking the form
of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [8] Being found in human
form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the
cross. [9] Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name
which is above every name; [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee would
bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, [11]
and that every tongue would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God, the Father. [12] So then, my beloved, even as you have always
obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God who works in
you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. [14] Do all things
without murmurings and disputes, [15] that you may become blameless and
harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and
perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, [16]
holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day
of Christ, that I didn`t run in vain nor labor in vain. [17] Yes, and if I
am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and
rejoice with you all. [18] In the same way, you also rejoice, and rejoice
with me. [19] But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon,
that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing. [20] For I
have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you. [21] For they
all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. [22] But you know the
proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in
furtherance of the gospel. [23] Therefore I hope to send him at once, as
soon as I see how it will go with me. [24] But I trust in the Lord that I
myself also will come shortly. [25] But I counted it necessary to send to
you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your
messenger and minister to my need; [26] since he longed for you all, and
was very troubled, because you had heard that he was sick. [27] For indeed
he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him
only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. [28] I have
sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when you see him again, you
may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. [29] Receive him
therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor, [30] because
for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply
that which was lacking in your service toward me.
