1If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, Rm 5:8; 15:30; 2Th 2:16; 1Jn 3:16; 4:9-10,16 if any fellowship with the Spirit, 1Co 12:13; 2Co 13:13; Eph 4:3 if any affection and mercy, Col 3:12

2fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, Rm 12:16; 15:5; 2Co 13:11; Php 4:2 having the same love, 2Th 1:3; 1Jn 3:16 sharing the same feelings, focusing on one Jn 11:52 goal.

3Do nothing out of rivalry Rm 2:8 or conceit, Gl 5:26 but in humility Col 3:12 consider others as more important Rm 13:1; Php 3:8; 4:7; 1Pt 2:13 than yourselves.

4Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, Rm 15:1 but also for the interests of others. Lv 19:18; Mk 10:45; 12:31; 1Co 10:24; 13:5; Php 2:21

5Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

6who, existing in the form of God,

7Instead He emptied Himself Mk 9:12; 2Co 8:9; 13:4

8He humbled Himself by becoming obedient

9For this reason God highly exalted Him Is 52:13; 53:12; Dn 7:14; Ac 2:32,33; 5:30,31; Eph 1:20-21; Heb 2:9

10so that at the name of Jesus

11and every tongue Is 45:23; Rm 10:9; 14:11; 1Co 12:3 should confess

12So then, my dear friends, Phm 1 just as you have always obeyed, Mk 1:27; Ac 16:14,32,33; Rm 6:12 not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

14Do everything without grumbling Jn 7:12; Ac 6:1; 1Pt 4:9 and arguing, 1Tm 2:8

15so that you may be blameless Lk 1:6 and pure, Mt 10:16; Rm 16:19 children of God who are faultless Jd 24 in a crooked Lk 3:5; Ac 2:40; 1Pt 2:18 and perverted Mt 17:17 generation, Dt 32:5 among whom you shine like stars in the world.

16Hold firmly to Or Offer, or Hold out the message Lk 8:21; Jn 18:32; Ac 17:11; Heb 4:12 of life. Then I can boast Rm 2:17; Gl 6:4; Php 1:26 in the day of Christ Php 1:6,15 that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.

17But even if I am poured out Php 1:7 as a drink offering Ex 25:29; Nm 28:7 on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

18In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus Lk 24:3 to send Timothy Ac 16:1; 1Tm 1:2 to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you.

20For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests;

21all seek their own interests, Rm 15:1; 2Tm 3:2 not those of Jesus Christ. 1Co 10:24; Php 1:15

22But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.

23Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

24I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly. Php 1:7

25But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus Php 4:18 — my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need Mt 6:8 —

26since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick.

27Indeed, 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.

28For 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.

29Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor,

30because he came close to death for the work Mk 14:6; 2Co 9:8; Gl 3:10; Jms 2:14-26 of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.