Philippians

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians, chapter 2, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 2 New English Translation

Christian Unity and Christ's Humility

   1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, 2 complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. 3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. 4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. 5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
   6 who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,
   7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.
   8 He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross!
   9 As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
   10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow - in heaven and on earth and under the earth -
   11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

   12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, 13 for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort - for the sake of his good pleasure - is God. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world 16 by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you. 18 And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.

Models for Ministry

   19 Now I hope in the LORD Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you. 20 For there is no one here like him who will readily demonstrate his deep concern for you. 21 Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel. 23 So I hope to send him as soon as I know more about my situation, 24 though I am confident in the LORD that I too will be coming to see you soon.
   25 But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need. 26 Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill. 27 In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him - and not to him only, but also to me - so that I would not have grief on top of grief. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety. 29 So welcome him in the LORD with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.

King James Version

   1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
   2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
   3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
   4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
   5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
   6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
   7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
   8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
   9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
   10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
   11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
   12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
   13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
   14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
   15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
   16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
   17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
   18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
   19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
   20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
   21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
   22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
   23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
   24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
   25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
   26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
   27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
   28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
   29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
   30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.