| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, | 1If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, |
| 2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. | 2fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. |
| 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | 3Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. |
| 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. | 4Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. |
| 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, | 5Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, |
| 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, | 6who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. |
| 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. | 7Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, |
| 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | 8He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-- even to death on a cross. |
| 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, | 9For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, |
| 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, | 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow-- of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth-- |
| 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
| 12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, | 12So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, 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 works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | 13For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. |
| 14Do all things without grumbling or disputing, | 14Do everything without grumbling and arguing, |
| 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, | 15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. |
| 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. | 16Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run or labor for nothing. |
| 17Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. | 17But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. |
| 18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. | 18In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. |
| 19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. | 19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you. |
| 20For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. | 20For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; |
| 21For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. | 21all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
| 22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. | 22But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. |
| 23I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, | 23Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. |
| 24and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. | 24I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly. |
| 25I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, | 25But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus--my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need-- |
| 26for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. | 26since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. |
| 27Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. | 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. |
| 28I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. | 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. |
| 29So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, | 29Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor, |
| 30for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. | 30because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me. |
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