The Koine Bible

If then there is any encouragement in the Messiah, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercy,

Complete my joy by thinking the same thing, having the same love, being united in spirit, thinking one thing.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

Do not each look out for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Have this attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

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

He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

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

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

and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, 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,

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

Do all things without grumbling and disputing,

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

holding fast to the word of life, for a boast to me on the day of the Messiah, because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

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

And you also rejoice and rejoice with me.

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be encouraged by knowing about you.

For I have no one like-minded who will genuinely care for what concerns you,

For all seek their own things, not the things of Jesus Christ.

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

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

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

But I considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, your apostle and minister of my need, to you,

Because he was longing for all of you and was distressed since he heard that he was ill.

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

Therefore I have sent him more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious.

Therefore welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and hold such men in honor,

Because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.