International Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
1Therefore, if there is any encouragement in the Messiah, if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship in the Spirit, if there is any compassion and sympathy, | 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 fill me with joy by having the same attitude, sharing the same love, being united in spirit, and keeping one purpose in mind. | 2make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. |
3Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves. | 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. |
4Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. | 4Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. |
5Have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Messiah Jesus: | 5Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, |
6In God's own form existed he, and shared with God equality, deemed nothing needed grasping. | 6who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. |
7Instead, poured out in emptiness, a servant's form did he possess, a mortal man becoming. In human form he chose to be, | 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 lived in all humility, death on a cross obeying. | 8he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death--even to death on a cross. |
9Now lifted up by God to heaven, a name above all others given, this matchless name possessing. | 9For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, |
10And so, when Jesus' name is called, the knees of everyone should fall, wherever they're residing. | 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow--in heaven and on earth and under the earth-- |
11Then every tongue in one accord, will say that Jesus the Messiah is Lord, while God the Father praising. | 11and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
12And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, 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 is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him. | 13For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. |
14Do everything without complaining or arguing | 14Do everything without grumbling and arguing, |
15so that you may be blameless and innocent, God's children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars 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, |
16as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I will be proud when the Messiah returns that I did not run in vain or work hard 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. |
17Yet even if I am being poured out like an offering as part of the sacrifice and service I offer for your faith, I rejoice, and I share my joy 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. |
18In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with me. | 18In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. |
19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I can be encouraged when I learn of your condition. | 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 do not have anyone else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. | 20For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; |
21For all the others look after their own interests, not after those of Jesus the Messiah. | 21all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
22But you know his proven worth—how like 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 as soon as I see how things are going to turn out for me. | 23Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. |
24Indeed, I am confident in the Lord that I will come to visit you soon. | 24I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon. |
25Meanwhile, I thought it best to send Epaphroditus—my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need—back to you. | 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 has been longing for all of you and is troubled because you heard that he was sick. | 26since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. |
27Indeed, he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow on top of another. | 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 especially eager to send him so that you may have the joy of seeing him again, and so that I may feel relieved. | 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 joyfully welcome him in the Lord and make sure you honor such people highly, | 29Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, |
30because he came close to death for the work of the Messiah by risking his life to complete what remained unfinished in your service to 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. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
|