1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from *[Rom. 15:30;2 Thess. 2:16] love, any *2 Cor. 13:14participation in the Spirit, any *Col. 3:12affection and sympathy, 2 *John 3:29;15:11complete my joy by being *See Rom. 12:16of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from *ch. 1:17selfish ambition or *Gal. 5:26conceit, but in *[Eph. 5:21]; See Rom. 12:10; Eph. 4:2humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you *See Rom. 15:2look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 *Rom. 15:3;See Matt. 11:29Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,*2:5 Or which was also in Christ Jesus6 *See John 1:1who, though he was in *See 2 Cor. 4:4the form of God, did not count equality with God *John 5:18;10:33;[John 14:28]a thing to be grasped,*2:6 Or a thing to be held on to for advantage7 but *2 Cor. 8:9;13:4;See Mark 9:12emptied himself, by taking the form of a *See Isa. 42:1;Matt. 20:28servant,*2:7 Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)*Rom. 8:3;Gal. 4:4;See John 1:14being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by *Heb. 5:8;[Matt. 26:39;John 10:18;Rom. 5:19] becoming obedient to the point of death, *Heb. 12:2even death on a cross. 9 *John 10:17;[Isa. 52:13;53:12;Heb. 2:9] Therefore *See Matt. 28:18God has *Acts 2:33highly exalted him and bestowed on him *Eph. 1:21;Heb. 1:4;[Acts 5:41]the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus *Isa. 45:23;Rom. 14:11every knee should bow, *[Rev. 5:3,13]; See Eph. 1:10in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and *[Rom. 10:9;1 Cor. 12:3] every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is *[Rom. 14:9]; See John 13:13Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, *[ch. 1:5;4:15] as you have always *Heb. 5:9;[2 Cor. 10:5;1 Pet. 1:2]obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for *1 Cor. 12:6;[Heb. 13:21]; See 1 Cor. 15:10it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for *[1 Tim. 2:4]his good pleasure.

14 Do all things *1 Pet. 4:9without grumbling or *1 Tim. 2:8disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, *[Matt. 5:45;Eph. 5:1] children of God *Jude 24without blemish *1 Pet. 2:12in the midst of *See Deut. 32:5a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine *Matt. 5:14,16;[Titus 2:10]as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to *[Acts 5:20] the word of life, so that in *See 1 Cor. 1:8the day of Christ *See 2 Cor. 1:14I may be proud that *Gal. 2:2;1 Thess. 3:5;[Gal. 4:11]I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be *[1 John 3:16]; See 2 Cor. 12:15poured out as a drink offering upon *[Rom. 15:16]the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus *[1 Cor. 4:17;1 Thess. 3:2]to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one *[1 Cor. 16:10]like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all *[2 Tim. 3:2]; See 1 Cor. 10:24seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s*2:22 Greek his*2 Cor. 2:9proven worth, how *1 Cor. 4:17;1 Tim. 1:2;2 Tim. 1:2as a son*2:22 Greek child with a father *[2 Tim. 3:10]he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and *[ch. 1:25;Philem. 22]I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you *ch. 4:18Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and *Philem. 2fellow soldier, and your messenger and *[ch. 4:18]minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So *Rom. 16:2receive him in the Lord with all joy, and *1 Cor. 16:18;1 Thess. 5:12,13;1 Tim. 5:17honor such men, 30 for he nearly died*2:30 Or he drew near to the point of death; compare verse 8*[Acts 20:24] for the work of Christ, risking his life *[ch. 4:10]; See 1 Cor. 16:17to complete what was lacking in your service to me.