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¹ Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship in the Spirit, if there is any compassion and sympathy,[xr] ² then fill me with joy by having the same attitude, sharing the same love, being united in spirit, and keeping one purpose in mind.[xr] ³ Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves.[xr] ⁴ Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about[fn] the interests of others.[xr] ⁵ Have the same attitude among yourselves[fn] that was also in Christ Jesus:[fn][xr] ⁶ In God's own form existed he,[xr] And shared with God equality, Deemed nothing needed grasping. ⁷ Instead, poured out in emptiness,[xr] A servant's form did he possess, A mortal man becoming. In human form he chose to be, ⁸ And lived in all humility,[xr] Death on a cross obeying. ⁹ Now lifted up by God to heaven,[xr] A name above all others given, This matchless name possessing. ¹⁰ And so, when Jesus' name is called,[xr] The knees of everyone should fall[fn] Where'er they are residing.[fn] ¹¹ Then every tongue in one accord,[xr] Will say that Jesus Christ is Lord, While God the Father praising.

¹² And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.[xr] ¹³ For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him.[xr]

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing[xr] ¹⁵ so that you may be blameless and innocent, God's children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world[xr] ¹⁶ as you hold out[fn] the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain.[xr] ¹⁷ Yet even if I am being poured out like an offering as part of the sacrifice and service I offer[fn] for your faith, I rejoice, and I share my joy with all of you.[xr] ¹⁸ In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with me. ¹⁹ Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I can be encouraged when I learn of your condition.[xr] ²⁰ I do not have anyone else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.[xr] ²¹ For all the others look after their own interests, not after those of Jesus Christ.[xr] ²² But you know his proven worth - how like a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.[xr] ²³ Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things are going to turn out for me. ²⁴ Indeed, I am confident in the Lord that I will come to visit you[fn] soon.[xr] ²⁵ Meanwhile, I thought it best to send Epaphroditus - my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need - back to you.[xr] ²⁶ For he has been longing for[fn] all of you and is troubled because you heard that he was sick.[xr] ²⁷ Indeed, he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow on top of another.[fn] ²⁸ Therefore, I am especially eager to send him so that you may have the joy of seeing him again, and so that I may feel relieved. ²⁹ So welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and make sure you honor such people highly.[xr] ³⁰ For he came close to death for the work of Christ,[fn] risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.[xr]