| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, | 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, |
| 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. | 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. |
| 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. | 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, |
| 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. | 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. |
| 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: | 5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: |
| 6Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, | 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; |
| 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. | 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. |
| 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. | 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross! |
| 9Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, | 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 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, | 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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
| 12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. | 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, |
| 13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose. | 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. |
| 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, | 14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, |
| 15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world | 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 |
| 16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. | 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. |
| 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. | 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. |
| 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. | 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. |
| 19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. | 19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. |
| 20I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs. | 20I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. |
| 21For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. | 21For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
| 22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel. | 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. |
| 23So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me. | 23I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. |
| 24And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon. | 24And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. |
| 25But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs. | 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. |
| 26For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. | 26For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. |
| 27He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. | 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. |
| 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. | 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. |
| 29Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, | 29So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, |
| 30because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me. | 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. |
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