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1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any deep affection and compassion, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, united in soul, thinking as one. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others above yourselves, 4 each looking not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be among you, which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to cling to,
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave and becoming like human beings.
And being found in appearance as a man,
8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also exalted him to the highest place and graciously gave him the name above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in the heavens and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, 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 everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that I may boast on 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 upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 In the same way, you too should rejoice and share your joy with me.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged when I learn how you are. 20 For I have no one of the same mind who will sincerely care for your situation. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven character: like a child with a father, he served with me for the gospel. 23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things will go with me, 24 and I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.
25 But I thought it necessary to send you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, your messenger and minister to my need, 26 because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed, he was ill and near death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful. 29 So welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and hold people like him in honor, 30 because he came near death for the work of Christ, risking his life to supply what was lacking in your service to me.