Imitating Christ’s Humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(A) if any tenderness and compassion,(B) then make my joy complete(C) by being like-minded,(D) having the same love, being one(E) in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(G) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(H)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(I)

Who, being in very nature[a] God,(J)
    did not consider equality with God(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(L)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(M)
    being made in human likeness.(N)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(O)
        even death on a cross!(P)

Therefore God exalted him(Q) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(R)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(S)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(T)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(U)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(V) 13 for it is God who works in you(W) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(X)

14 Do everything without grumbling(Y) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(Z) and pure, “children of God(AA) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c](AB) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ(AC) that I did not run(AD) or labor in vain.(AE) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(AF) on the sacrifice(AG) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(AH) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(AI) to you soon,(AJ) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(AK) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(AL) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(AM) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.(AN) 24 And I am confident(AO) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker(AP) and fellow soldier,(AQ) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(AR) 26 For he longs for all of you(AS) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,(AT) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,(AU) 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.(AV)

No Confidence in the Flesh

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,(AW) and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs,(AX) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision,(AY) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,(AZ) and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.(BA)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised(BB) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,(BC) of the tribe of Benjamin,(BD) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;(BE) as for zeal,(BF) persecuting the church;(BG) as for righteousness based on the law,(BH) faultless.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss(BI) for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing(BJ) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ(BK) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,(BL) but that which is through faith in[d] Christ—the righteousness(BM) that comes from God on the basis of faith.(BN) 10 I want to know(BO) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,(BP) becoming like him in his death,(BQ) 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection(BR) from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(BS) but I press on to take hold(BT) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(BU) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(BV) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(BW) toward the goal to win the prize(BX) for which God has called(BY) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature(BZ) should take such a view of things.(CA) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.(CB) 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example,(CC) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.(CD) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,(CE) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.(CF) 19 Their destiny(CG) is destruction, their god is their stomach,(CH) and their glory is in their shame.(CI) Their mind is set on earthly things.(CJ) 20 But our citizenship(CK) is in heaven.(CL) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,(CM) 21 who, by the power(CN) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies(CO) so that they will be like his glorious body.(CP)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,(CQ) my joy and crown, stand firm(CR) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind(CS) in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,(CT) whose names are in the book of life.(CU)

Final Exhortations

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!(CV) Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.(CW) Do not be anxious about anything,(CX) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.(CY) And the peace of God,(CZ) which transcends all understanding,(DA) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.(DB) And the God of peace(DC) will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.(DD) Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content(DE) whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,(DF) whether living in plenty or in want.(DG) 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.(DH)

14 Yet it was good of you to share(DI) in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days(DJ) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,(DK) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;(DL) 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica,(DM) you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.(DN) 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.(DO) 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus(DP) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant(DQ) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs(DR) according to the riches of his glory(DS) in Christ Jesus.

20 To our God and Father(DT) be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(DU)

Final Greetings

21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me(DV) send greetings. 22 All God’s people(DW) here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ(DX) be with your spirit.(DY) Amen.[e]

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form
  3. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5
  4. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of
  5. Philippians 4:23 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.

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