Phili 2 | Comm | STEP | Therefore 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,

‏ Philippians 2

1 Therefore 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, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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

14 Do all things without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may 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, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news of you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know that he has proved his worth, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 25 But I thought 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; 26 for he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may have less anxiety. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.