English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?

2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

2Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

8he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Shine Brightly for Christ

12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

14Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

14Do everything without complaining and arguing,

15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

15so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

17Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

17But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.

18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

18Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. Paul Commends Timothy

19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.

19If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along.

20For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

20I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.

21For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.

22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

22But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News.

23I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,

23I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.

24and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

24And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. Paul Commends Epaphroditus

25I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,

25Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.

26for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.

26I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill.

27Indeed 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.

27And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

28I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.

28So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you.

29So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,

29Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.

30for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

30For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.