Phili 2 | BSB | STEP | Therefore if [you have] any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from [His] love, if any fellowship with [the] Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

Philippians 2

One in Christ

1 Therefore if [you have] any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from [His] love, if any fellowship with [the] Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 [then] {make} my joy complete by being of one mind, having the same love, being united in spirit [and] purpose. 3 [Do] nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4 Each [of you] should look not only {to} your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The Mind of Christ

5 Let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, existing in [the] form of God, {did} not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking [the] form of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself [and] became obedient to death— even death on [a] cross. 9 Therefore God exalted Him {to the highest place} and gave Him the name above all names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should 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.

Shining as Stars

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of [His] good pleasure. 14 Do everything without complaining [or] arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, ^{▼▼Deuteronomy 32:5} in which you shine as lights in [the] world 16 as you hold forth [the] word of life, in order that I may boast on [the] day of Christ that I did not run [or] 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 with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 Now I hope in [the] Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you {are doing} . 20 I have nobody else like him who {will} genuinely care for your needs. 21 For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know [Timothy’s] proven worth, that as a child [with his] father he has served with me to [advance] the gospel. 23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me. 24 And I trust in [the] Lord that I myself will come soon.

Epaphroditus Commended

25 But I thought [it] necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, [who is] also your messenger and minister to my needs. 26 For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore {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. 29 Welcome him in [the] Lord with great joy, and honor men [like him] , 30 because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking [his] life to make up for your deficit of service to me.