Philippians 2
1Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation from love, if any koinonia of the Spirit, if any visceral compassion and mercies, 2fulfill my joy: think the same way, having the same love, joined in soul, minding the one thing. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty vanity, but in lowliness of mind consider one another as surpassing yourselves. 4Do not each of you look out for your own interests, but each of you also for the interests of others.
5Have this mindset among yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, subsisting in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, born in the likeness of humans. And being found in appearance as a human, 8he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and graciously gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11and every tongue should openly acknowledge “Jesus Christ is Lord,” to the glory of God the Father.
12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only as in my presence but now much more in my absence, work out your own 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 everything without grumbling and arguments, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like luminaries in the world, 16holding fast the word of life. This will be my reason for boasting on the day of Christ, that 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 I share my joy with all of you. 18In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.
19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be encouraged by knowing how things are with you. 20For I have no one else who is equal-souled, who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But you know his proven worth, that like a child with a father he slaved with me for the gospel. 23Therefore I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25But I considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you—my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your apostle and minister to my need— 26since he has been longing for you all and was distressed because you heard he was sick. 27Indeed he was sick, nearly 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 grief upon grief. 28Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less anxious. 29Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in high honor, 30because he came close to death for the work of Christ, gambling with his life to make up for what was lacking in your service to me.