Christian Humility
1If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,2:1 Rm 5:8; 15:30; 2Th 2:16; 1Jn 3:16; 4:9–10,16 if any fellowship with the Spirit,2:1 1Co 12:13; 2Co 13:13; Eph 4:3 if any affection and mercy,2:1 Col 3:12
2make my joy complete by thinking the same way,2:2 Rm 12:16; 15:5; 2Co 13:11; Php 4:2 having the same love,2:2 2Th 1:3; 1Jn 3:16 united in spirit, intent on one2:2 Jn 11:52 purpose.
Christ’s Humility and Exaltation
5Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God2:6 Is 9:6; Jn 1:1,14; 20:28; Rm 9:5; Col 1:15–16; Ti 2:13; Heb 1:2–13; 2Pt 1:1; 1Jn 4:14–15
as something to be exploited.2:6 Or to be grasped, or to be held on to
And when he had come as a man,
8he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death —
9For this reason God highly exalted him2:9 Is 52:13; 53:12; Dn 7:14; Ac 2:32–33; 5:30–31; Eph 1:20–21; Heb 2:9
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow2:10 Is 45:23 —
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
Lights in the World
12Therefore, my dear friends,2:12 Phm 1 just as you have always obeyed,2:12 Mk 1:27; Ac 16:14,32–33; Rm 6:12 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 working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
15so that you may be blameless2:15 Lk 1:6 and pure,2:15 Mt 10:16; Rm 16:19 children of God who are faultless2:15 Jd 24 in a crooked2:15 Lk 3:5; Ac 2:40; 1Pt 2:18 and perverted2:15 Mt 17:17 generation,2:15 Dt 32:5 among whom you shine like stars in the world,
16by holding firm to the word2:16 Lk 8:21; Jn 18:32; Ac 17:11; Heb 4:12 of life. Then I can boast2:16 Rm 2:17; Gl 6:4; Php 1:26 in the day of Christ2:16 Php 1:6,15 that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.
17But even if I am poured out2:17 Php 1:7 as a drink offering2:17 Ex 25:29; Nm 28:7 on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
18In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus2:19 Lk 24:3 to send Timothy2:19 Ac 16:1; 1Tm 1:2 to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you.
20For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests;
21all seek their own interests,2:21 Rm 15:1; 2Tm 3:2 not those of Jesus Christ.2:21 1Co 10:24; Php 1:15
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 go with me.
25But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus2:25 Php 4:18 — my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need2:25 Mt 6:8 —
26since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick.
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.
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.
29Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor,
30because he came close to death for the work2:30 Mk 14:6; 2Co 9:8; Gl 3:10; Jms 2:14–26 of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.
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