Christ’s Humility and Exaltation

1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any [†]affection and compassion, 2fulfill my joy, that you think the same way, by maintaining the same love, being united in spirit, thinking on one purpose, 3doing nothing [†]from [†]selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, 4not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this way of thinking [†]in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing [†]to be grasped, 7but [†]emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [†]on a cross. 9Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 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 WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is [†]LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15so that you will be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as [†]lights in the world, 16holding [†]fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to boast because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. 17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18And you also, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus Sent

19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be in good spirits when I learn of your circumstances. 20For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned about your circumstances. 21For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I [†]evaluate my own circumstances, 24and I am confident in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. 25But I regarded it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your [†]messenger and minister to my need; 26because he was longing [†]for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned. 29Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard 30because he came close to death [†]for the work of Christ, risking his life to fulfill [†]what was lacking in your service to me.