Lectionary Calendar

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024
the Second Week of Advent

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PhilippiansPhi 1 PhilippiansPhi PhilippiansPhi 3

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Christian Humility

¹ If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,^(C1) if any fellowship with the Spirit,^(C2) if any affection and mercy,^(C3) ² make my joy complete by thinking the same way,^(C1) having the same love,^(C2) united in spirit, intent on one^(C3) purpose. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition^(C1) or conceit,^(C2) but in humility^(C3) consider others as more important^(C4) than yourselves. ⁴ Everyone should look out not only for his own interests,^(C1) but also for the interests of others.^(C2)

Christ’s Humility and Exaltation

⁵ Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

⁶ who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God^(C1)
as something to be exploited.^(F1)⁷ Instead he emptied himself^(C1)
by assuming the form of a servant,^(C2)
taking on the likeness of humanity.^(C3)
And when he had come as a man,⁸ he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.^(C1)⁹ For this reason God highly exalted him^(C1)
and gave him the name
that is above every name,¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow^(C1)—
in heaven^(C2) and on earth
and under the earth^(C3)—¹¹ and every tongue^(C1) will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory^(C2) of God the Father.

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my dear friends,^(C1) just as you have always obeyed,^(C2) so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. ¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling^(C1) and arguing,^(C2) ¹⁵ so that you may be blameless^(C1) and pure,^(C2) children of God who are faultless^(C3) in a crooked^(C4) and perverted^(C5) generation,^(C6) among whom you shine like stars in the world, ¹⁶ by holding firm to the word^(C1) of life. Then I can boast^(C2) in the day of Christ^(C3) that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. ¹⁷ But even if I am poured out^(C1) as a drink offering^(C2) on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ Now I hope in the Lord Jesus^(C1) to send Timothy^(C2) to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. ²⁰ For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; ²¹ all seek their own interests,^(C1) not those of Jesus Christ.^(C2) ²² But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. ²³ Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.^(C1)

²⁵ But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus^(C1)—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need^(C2)— ²⁶ since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. ²⁷ Indeed, 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. ²⁸ For 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. ²⁹ Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, ³⁰ because he came close to death for the work^(C1) of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.