English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, | 1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? |
2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. | 2Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. |
3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | 3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. |
4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. | 4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. |
5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, | 5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. |
6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, | 6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. |
7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. | 7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human 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 in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. |
9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, | 9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, |
10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, | 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 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 declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Shine Brightly for Christ |
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, | 12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. |
13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. |
14Do all things without grumbling or disputing, | 14Do everything without complaining 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 no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. |
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 word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. |
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 I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. |
18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. | 18Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. Paul Commends Timothy |
19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. | 19If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. |
20For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. | 20I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. |
21For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. | 21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to 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 how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. |
23I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, | 23I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. |
24and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. | 24And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. Paul Commends Epaphroditus |
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, | 25Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. |
26for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. | 26I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. |
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. | 27And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after 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. | 28So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. |
29So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, | 29Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. |
30for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. | 30For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away. |
ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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