New King James Version | New Living Translation |
1Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, | 1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? |
2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. | 2Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. |
3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. | 3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. |
4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. | 4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. |
5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, | 5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. |
6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, | 6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. |
7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. | 7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human 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 in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. |
9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, | 9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, |
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, | 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 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 declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Shine Brightly for Christ |
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; | 12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. |
13for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. | 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. |
14Do all things without complaining and disputing, | 14Do everything without complaining 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 no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. |
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 word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. |
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 I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. |
18For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. | 18Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. Paul Commends Timothy |
19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. | 19If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. |
20For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. | 20I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. |
21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. | 21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to 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 how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. |
23Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. | 23I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. |
24But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. | 24And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. Paul Commends Epaphroditus |
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; | 25Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. |
26since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. | 26I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. |
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. | 27And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. |
28Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. | 28So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. |
29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; | 29Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. |
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. | 30For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away. |
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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