Filipenses 2

Unity Through Humility

1 Therefore if thereis any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any *Col. 3:12affection and mercy, 2 *John 3:29fulfill my joy *Rom. 12:16by being like-minded, having the same love, being of *Phil. 4:2one accord, of one mind. 3 *Gal. 5:26; James 3:14Let nothing bedone through selfish ambition or conceit, but *Rom. 12:10; Eph. 5:21in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 *1 Cor. 13:5Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of *Rom. 15:1, 2others.

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

5 *(Matt. 11:29); Rom. 15:3Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, *2 Cor. 4:4being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 *Ps. 22:6but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form *Is. 42:1of a bondservant, and*(John 1:14); Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4; (Heb. 2:17)coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and *Ps. 40:6–8; Matt. 26:39; John 10:18; (Rom. 5:19)became *Heb. 5:8obedient to thepointof death, even the death of the cross. 9 *(Matt. 28:18); Heb. 2:9Therefore God also *Ps. 68:18; 110:1; Is. 52:13; Acts 2:33has highly exalted Him and *Is. 9:6; Luke 1:32; Eph. 1:21given Him the name which is above every name, 10 *Is. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Rev. 5:13that 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 *John 13:13; (Rom. 10:9; 14:9)that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Light Bearers

12 Therefore, my beloved, *Phil. 1:5, 6; 4:15as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, *John 6:27, 29; 2 Pet. 1:10work out your own salvation with *Eph. 6:5fear and trembling; 13 for *Rom. 12:3; 1 Cor. 12:6; 15:10; 2 Cor. 3:5; Heb. 13:20, 21it is God who works in you both to will and to do *Eph. 1:5for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things *1 Cor. 10:10; 1 Pet. 4:9without complaining and *Rom. 14:1disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as *Matt. 5:15, 16lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that *2 Cor. 1:14I may rejoice in the day of Christ that *Gal. 2:2I have not run in vain or labored in *Is. 49:4; Gal. 4:11; 1 Thess. 3:5vain.

17 Yes, and if *2 Cor. 12:15; 2 Tim. 4:6I am being poured out asadrinkoffering on the sacrifice *Num. 28:6, 7; Rom. 15:16and service of your faith, *2 Cor. 7:4I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy Commended

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send *Rom. 16:21Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one *1 Cor. 16:10; 2 Tim. 3:10like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, *1 Cor. 4:17that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

Epaphroditus Praised

25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you *Phil. 4:18Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and *Philem. 2fellow soldier, *John 13:16; 2 Cor. 8:23but your messenger and *2 Cor. 11:9the one who ministered to my need; 26 *Phil. 1:8since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, *1 Cor. 16:17; Phil. 4:10to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.