Christ's Example of Humility

¹So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from flove, any gparticipation in the Spirit, any haffection and sympathy, ²icomplete my joy by being jof the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³Do nothing from kselfish ambition or lconceit, but in mhumility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you nlook not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵oHave this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,1 ⁶pwho, though he was in qthe form of God, did not count equality with God ra thing to be grasped,2 ⁷but semptied himself, by taking the form of a tservant,3 ubeing born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by vbecoming obedient to the point of death, weven death on a cross. ⁹xTherefore yGod has zhighly exalted him and bestowed on him athe name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus bevery knee should bow, cin heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and devery tongue confess that Jesus Christ is eLord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

¹²Therefore, my beloved, fas you have always gobeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for hit is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ihis good pleasure.

¹⁴Do all things jwithout grumbling or kdisputing, ¹⁵that you may be blameless and innocent, lchildren of God mwithout blemish nin the midst of oa crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine pas lights in the world, ¹⁶holding fast to qthe word of life, so that in rthe day of Christ sI may be proud that tI did not run in vain or labor in vain. ¹⁷Even if I am to be upoured out as a drink offering upon vthe sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹I hope in the Lord Jesus wto send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. ²⁰For I have no one xlike him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. ²¹For they all yseek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know Timothy's4 zproven worth, how aas a son5 with a father bhe has served with me in the gospel. ²³I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, ²⁴and cI trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

²⁵I have thought it necessary to send to you dEpaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and efellow soldier, and your messenger and fminister to my need, ²⁶for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. ²⁷Indeed 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. ²⁸I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. ²⁹So greceive him in the Lord with all joy, and hhonor such men, ³⁰for he nearly died6 ifor the work of Christ, risking his life jto complete what was lacking in your service to me.