| New International Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, | 1If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, |
| 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. | 2make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. |
| 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, | 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. |
| 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. | 4Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. |
| 5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: | 5Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, |
| 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; | 6who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. |
| 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. | 7Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, |
| 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to 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 exalted him to the highest place and gave 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, |
| 10that 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--in heaven and on earth and under the earth-- |
| 11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | 11and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
| 12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, | 12Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. |
| 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. | 13For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. |
| 14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, | 14Do everything without grumbling and arguing, |
| 15so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky | 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, |
| 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. | 16by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run or labor for nothing. |
| 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. | 17But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. |
| 18So you too 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, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. | 19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. |
| 20I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. | 20For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; |
| 21For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. | 21all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
| 22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of 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 as soon as I see how things go with me. | 23Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. |
| 24And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. | 24I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon. |
| 25But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. | 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 longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard 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, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me 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 sorrow upon sorrow. |
| 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. | 28For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. |
| 29So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, | 29Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, |
| 30because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give 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. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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