| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, | 1If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, |
| 2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. | 2fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. |
| 3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. | 3Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. |
| 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. | 4Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. |
| 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, | 5Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, |
| 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, | 6who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. |
| 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming 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 appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. | 8He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-- even to death on a cross. |
| 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which 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, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those 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 that every tongue should 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, not as in my presence only, but now 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 do 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 complaining and disputing, | 14Do everything without grumbling and arguing, |
| 15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse 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 the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored 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. |
| 17Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service 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. |
| 18For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. | 18In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. |
| 19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. | 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-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. | 20For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; |
| 21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. | 21all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
| 22But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he 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. |
| 23Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. | 23Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. |
| 24But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. | 24I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly. |
| 25Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered 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-- |
| 26since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. | 26since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. |
| 27For indeed he was sick almost unto 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. |
| 28Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. | 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. |
| 29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; | 29Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor, |
| 30because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward 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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