1 If there be then any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies; Fulfil ye my joy,
2 that ye think the same thing, having the same love, being of one soul, of one mind.
3 Do nothing through strife or vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind, esteem each the others better than themselves.
4 Look not every one at his own things, but every one also at the things of others.
6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God;
7 Yet emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above every name,
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee might bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth:
11 And every tongue might confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord in the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God that worketh in you according to his good pleasure, both to will and to do.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and simple, the sons of God, unrebukable, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world,
16 Holding fast the word of life, that I may glory in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause joy ye likewise, and rejoice with me.
19 Now I trust in the Lord Jesus, to send Timotheus to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged, when I know your state.
20 For I have none like-minded, who will naturally care for what concerneth you.
21 For all seek their own, not the things of Christ.
22 But ye know the proof of him, that as a son with his father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
23 Him therefore I hope to send, as soon as ever I know how it will go with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord, that I also myself shall come shortly.
25 Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labour and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and him that ministered to my need.
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because ye had heard that he was sick.
27 He was indeed sick nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me likewise, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 I have sent him therefore the more willingly, that ye seeing him again may rejoice, and that I also may be the less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and honour such.
30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his own life, to supply your deficiency of service toward me.