Philippians 2

1So if there is any encouragement in Messiah, if any comfort from love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

2complete my joy, so that you may think the same way, having the same love, being united in soul, thinking one thing.

3Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard one another as more important than yourselves,

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

5Have this mindset among yourselves, which was also in Messiah Jesus,

6who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, becoming in the likeness of men; and being found in appearance as a man

8he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

9Therefore God also highly exalted him and graciously gave him the name that is above every name,

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

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

12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

13For God is the one working in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14Do everything without grumbling or arguing,

15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world

16holding fast the word of life, for a boast to me in the day of Messiah, that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and rejoice with all of you.

18In the same way, you also rejoice and rejoice with me.

19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged when I learn the things concerning you.

20For I have no one like him who will genuinely care about your welfare,

21For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus the Messiah.

22But you know his proven character, that as a child with his father he served with me for the gospel.

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

24I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.

25But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need—

26since he was longing for all of you and was deeply distressed because you heard that he was sick.

27For indeed he was sick, nearly to death; but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28Therefore I sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less distressed.

29So welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and hold people like him in honor.

30because for the work of Messiah he came near to death, risking his life to make up for what was lacking in your service to me.