| Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, | 1Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, |
| 2make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. | 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. |
| 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. | 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. |
| 4Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. | 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. |
| 5Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, | 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: |
| 6who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. | 6Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, |
| 7Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, | 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. |
| 8he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death--even to death on a cross. | 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. |
| 9For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, | 9Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, |
| 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow--in heaven and on earth and under the earth-- | 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, |
| 11and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
| 12Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. | 12Therefore, 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. |
| 13For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. | 13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose. |
| 14Do everything without grumbling and arguing, | 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, |
| 15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, | 15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world |
| 16by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run or labor for nothing. | 16as 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. |
| 17But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. | 17But 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. |
| 18In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. | 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. |
| 19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. | 19Now 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. |
| 20For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; | 20I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs. |
| 21all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. | 21For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
| 22But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. | 22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel. |
| 23Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. | 23So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me. |
| 24I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon. | 24And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon. |
| 25But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus--my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need-- | 25But 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. |
| 26since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. | 26For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. |
| 27Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. | 27He 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. |
| 28For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. | 28Therefore 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. |
| 29Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, | 29Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, |
| 30because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me. | 30because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me. |
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