Philippians 2 New International Version

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,^(A) if any tenderness and compassion,^(B) ²then make my joy complete^(C) by being like-minded,^(D) having the same love, being one^(E) in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.^(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,^(G) ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.^(H)

⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^(I)

⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God,^(J)
    did not consider equality with God^(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷rather, he made himself nothing^(L)
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,^(M)
    being made in human likeness.^(N)
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death^(O)—
        even death on a cross!^(P)

⁹Therefore God exalted him^(Q) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,^(R)
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,^(S)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,^(T)
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,^(U)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,^(V) ¹³for it is God who works in you^(W) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.^(X)

¹⁴Do everything without grumbling^(Y) or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless^(Z) and pure, “children of God^(AA) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[c]^(AB) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ^(AC) that I did not run^(AD) or labor in vain.^(AE) ¹⁷But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering^(AF) on the sacrifice^(AG) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.^(AH) ¹⁸So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy^(AI) to you soon,^(AJ) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰I have no one else like him,^(AK) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹For everyone looks out for their own interests,^(AL) not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father^(AM) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.^(AN) ²⁴And I am confident^(AO) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker^(AP) and fellow soldier,^(AQ) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.^(AR) ²⁶For he longs for all of you^(AS) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,^(AT) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,^(AU) ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.^(AV)

Footnotes

Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
Philippians 2:7 Or the form
Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5

Cross references

New International Version (NIV)