Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Philippians 2
Unity and Humility
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, united in spirit, thinking as one. Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
The Mind of Christ
Have this mindset among yourselves, which is also yours in Christ Jesus:
who, existing in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a servant,
becoming like human beings.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Therefore God highly exalted him
and graciously gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend—
in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Work Out What God Works In
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed—not only when I was present, but now much more in my absence—work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for God is the one working in you, both to desire and to work for his good pleasure. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, holding firmly to the word of life, so that on the day of Christ I may boast that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Shared Joy in Sacrifice
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering over the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and rejoice together with all of you. In the same way, you also should rejoice and rejoice together with me.
Timothy
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged when I hear how you are doing. I have no one else like him who will genuinely care about your welfare, because everyone else seeks their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven character, how, like a child with a parent, he has served with me in the work of the gospel. So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me, and I trust in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.
Epaphroditus
I considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need. He has been longing for all of you and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. He was indeed ill and nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. So I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less anxious. Welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and honor people like him, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.