Philippians 2

1So if you have any encouragement from being joined to Christ, any comfort from His love, any sharing in the Spirit, any tender feelings and mercy,

2then make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, and being one in spirit and purpose.

3Do nothing out of selfishness or pride. Instead, be humble, and think of others as better than yourselves.

4Each of you should look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5Think the way Christ Jesus thought:

6Christ was truly God. But He did not hold on to His place as God's equal.

7Instead, He gave it up. He took the place of a servant and was born as a human being.

8And when He came as a man, He made Himself low. He obeyed God all the way to death — even death on a cross.

9So God lifted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name,

10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow — in heaven, on earth, and under the earth —

11and every tongue should say that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12So then, my dear friends, you have always obeyed — not only when I was with you, but even more now that I am away. So keep working out your salvation with deep respect for God.

13For it is God who is working in you, both to want to do what pleases Him and to do it.

14Do everything without complaining or arguing,

15so that you may be innocent and pure, children of God with no fault, in the middle of a twisted and sinful world. Among them you shine like stars in the sky,

16as you hold out the word of life. Then on the day of Christ I can be proud that I did not run or work for nothing.

17But even if my life is poured out like an offering on the sacrifice that comes from your faith, I am glad, and I rejoice with all of you.

18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

19I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered up when I hear how you are.

20I have no one else like him, who truly cares about how you are.

21Everyone else is looking after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

22But you know that Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in the work of the good news.

23So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

24And I am sure, in the Lord, that I myself will come soon too.

25But I think I must send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother, my fellow worker, and my fellow soldier. You sent him to take care of my needs.

26He has been longing for all of you, and is troubled because you heard that he was sick.

27He really was sick, almost to the point of death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

28So I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you will be glad, and I will have less worry.

29So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,

30because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to give me the help you could not give.