Christ's Example of Humility

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from 1love, any 2participation in the Spirit, any 3affection and sympathy,
2 4complete my joy by being 5of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from 6rivalry or 7conceit, but in 8humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you 9look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 10Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,a
6 11who, though he was in 12the form of God, did not count equality with God 13a thing to be grasped,
7 but 14made himself nothing, taking the form of a 15servant,b16 being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by 17becoming obedient to the point of death, 18even death on a cross.
9 19Therefore 20God has 21highly exalted him and bestowed on him 22the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus 23every knee should bow, 24in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and 25every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is 26Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, 27as you have always 28obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for 29it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for 30his good pleasure.
14 Do all things 31without grumbling or 32questioning,
15 that you may be blameless and innocent, 33children of God 34without blemish 35in the midst of 36a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine 37as lights in the world,
16 holding fast to 38the word of life, so that in 39the day of Christ 40I may be proud that 41I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
17 Even if I am to be 42poured out as a drink offering upon 43the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus 44to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
20 For I have no one 45like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
21 For they all 46seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
22 But you know Timothy'sc47proven worth, how 48as a sond with a father 49he has served with me in the gospel.
23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,
24 and 50I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
25 I have thought it necessary to send to you 51Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and 52fellow soldier, and your messenger and 53minister to my need,
26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
29 So 54receive him in the Lord with all joy, and 55honor such men,
30 for he nearly died 56for the work of Christ, risking his life 57to complete what was lacking in your service to me.