| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, | 1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, |
| 2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. | 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. |
| 3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. | 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, |
| 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. | 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. |
| 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, | 5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: |
| 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, | 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; |
| 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. | 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. |
| 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. | 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross! |
| 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, | 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, |
| 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, | 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, |
| 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | 11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
| 12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; | 12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, |
| 13for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. | 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. |
| 14Do all things without complaining and disputing, | 14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, |
| 15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, | 15so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky |
| 16holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. | 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. |
| 17Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. | 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. |
| 18For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. | 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. |
| 19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. | 19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. |
| 20For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. | 20I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. |
| 21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. | 21For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
| 22But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. | 22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. |
| 23Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. | 23I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. |
| 24But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. | 24And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. |
| 25Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; | 25But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. |
| 26since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. | 26For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. |
| 27For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. | 27Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. |
| 28Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. | 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. |
| 29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; | 29So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, |
| 30because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. | 30because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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