Unity Through Humility
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,
2 make my joy full, being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, regard one another as more important than yourselves.
4 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Christ’s Example of Humility
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Shining as Lights in the World
12 Therefore, my beloved, just 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,
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,
15 so that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I did not run in vain nor laboured in vain.
Examples to Imitate
17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
18 Likewise, you also rejoice and share your joy with me.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be encouraged when I learn about your condition.
20 For I have no one like-minded, who will genuinely care for your interests.
21 For all seek their own, not the things of Christ Jesus.
22 But you know his proven worth, that as a son with a father he has served with me for the gospel.
23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how it goes with me.
24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.
25 But I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, your messenger and minister to my need,
26 because he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was sick.
27 Indeed he was sick, near death; but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned.
29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and honour people like him,
30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
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