Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 2

Christian Humility

¹ If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,^(a) if any fellowship with the Spirit,^(b) if any affection and mercy,^{(c) 2} fulfill my joy by thinking the same way,^(d) having the same love,^(e) sharing the same feelings, focusing on one^(f) goal. ³ Do nothing out of rivalry^(g) or conceit,^(h) but in humility⁽ⁱ⁾ consider others as more important^(j) than yourselves. ⁴ Everyone should look out not only for his own interests,^(k) but also for the interests of others.^(l)

Christ's Humility and Exaltation

⁵ Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

Lights in the World

¹² So then, my dear friends,^(x) just as you have always obeyed,^(y) not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. ¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling^(z) and arguing,^{(aa) 15} so that you may be blameless^(ab) and pure,^(ac) children of God who are faultless^(ad) in a crooked^(ae) and perverted^(af) generation,^(ag) among whom you shine like stars in the world. ¹⁶ Hold firmly to^[c] the message^(ah) of life. Then I can boast^(ai) in the day of Christ^(aj) that I didn't run or labor for nothing. ¹⁷ But even if I am poured out^(ak) as a drink offering^(al) on the sacrifice and 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^(am) to send Timothy^(an) to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear 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,^(ao) not those of Jesus Christ.^{(ap) 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 convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly.^(aq)

²⁵ But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus^(ar)—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need^(as)— 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 one grief on top of another. ²⁸ For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious. ²⁹ Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor, ³⁰ because he came close to death for the work^(at) of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

Chapter 3

Knowing Christ

¹ Finally, my brothers, rejoice^(a) in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a protection for you.

² Watch out for "dogs,"^[a] watch out for evil^(b) workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision,^(c) the ones who serve by the Spirit^(d) of God, boast in Christ Jesus,^(e) and do not put confidence in the flesh— ⁴ although I once also had confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day;^(f) of the nation of Israel,^(g) of the tribe of Benjamin,^(h) a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law,⁽ⁱ⁾ a Pharisee; ⁶ regarding zeal,^(j) persecuting^(k) the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law,^(l) blameless.^(m)

⁷ But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value⁽ⁿ⁾ of knowing Christ^(o) Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ^{(p) 9} and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law,^(q) but one that is through faith in Christ^[b]—the righteousness from God based on faith.^{(r) 10} My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,^(s) being conformed to His death,^{(t) 11} assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

Reaching Forward to God's Goal

¹² Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold^(u) of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers, I do not^[c] consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(v) and reaching forward to what is ahead, ¹⁴ I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly^[d] call in Christ Jesus.^{(w) 15} Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal^(x) this also to you. ¹⁶ In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. ¹⁷ Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸ For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross^(y) of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory^(z) is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, ²⁰ but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹ He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious^(aa) body,^(ab) by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.

Chapter 4

Practical Counsel

¹ So then, my brothers, you are dearly loved and longed for—my joy and crown.^(a) In this manner stand firm^(b) in the Lord, dear friends. ² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. ³ Yes, I also ask you, true partner,^[a] to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life. ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.^{(c) 6} Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses^(d) every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.^(e)

⁸ Finally brothers, whatever is true,^(f) whatever is honorable,^(g) whatever is just,^(h) whatever is pure,⁽ⁱ⁾ whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence^(j) and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. ⁹ Do what you have learned and received^(k) and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Appreciation of Support

¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that once again^(l) you renewed your care for me.^(m) You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I don't say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot.⁽ⁿ⁾ In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. ¹³ I am able to do all things through Him^[b] who strengthens me.^{(o) 14} Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship.

¹⁵ And you Philippians^(p) know that in the early days of the gospel,^(q) when I left Macedonia,^(r) no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica^(s) you sent gifts for my need^(t) several times. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit^[c](u) that is increasing to your account. ¹⁸ But I have received everything in full,^(v) and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus^(w) what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing^(x) to God. ¹⁹ And my God^(y) will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father^(z) be glory forever and ever.^(aa) Amen.^(ab)

Final Greetings

²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. Those brothers who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, but especially those from Caesar's^(ac) household.^{(ad) 23} The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^[d](ae)