Philippians 2
The passage emphasizes the importance of unity and humility among believers, encouraging them to have the same understanding and charity, and to esteem others better than themselves. It cites Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of humility, who emptied himself and took the form of a servant, ultimately being exalted by God. Believers are urged to work towards their salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that God works in them to choose and act according to his will. The passage also expresses the apostle's hope to send Timothy and Epaphroditus to the Philippians, and his gratitude for their concern and support.
Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, any solace of charity, any fellowship of the Spirit, any feelings of commiserationcomplete my joy by having the same understanding, holding to the same charity, being of one mind, with the same sentimentLet nothing be done by contention, nor in vain glory. Instead, in humility, let each of you esteem others to be better than himselfLet each of you not consider anything to be your own, but rather to belong to othersFor this understanding in you was also in Christ Jesuswho, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seizedInstead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a manHe humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even the death of the CrossBecause of this, God has also exalted him and has given him a name which is above every nameso that, at the name of Jesus, every knee would bend, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those in helland so that every tongue would confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the FatherAnd so, my most beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but even more so now in my absence: work toward your salvation with fear and tremblingFor it is God who works in you, both so as to choose, and so as to act, in accord with his good willAnd do everything without murmuring or hesitationSo may you be without blame, simple sons of God, without reproof, in the midst of a depraved and perverse nation, among whom you shine like lights in the worldholding to the Word of Life, until my glory in the day of Christ. For I have not run in vain, nor have I labored in vainMoreover, if I am to be immolated because of the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and give thanks with all of youAnd over this same thing, you also should rejoice and give thanks, together with meNow I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, in order that I may be encouraged, when I know the things concerning youFor I have no one else with such an agreeable mind, who, with sincere affection, is solicitous for youFor they all seek the things that are of themselves, not the things that are of Jesus ChristSo know this evidence of him: that like a son with a father, so has he served with me in the GospelTherefore, I hope to send him to you immediately, as soon as I see what will happen concerning meBut I trust in the Lord that I myself will also return to you soonNow I have considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and co-worker, and fellow soldier, and an attendant to my needs, but your ApostleFor certainly, he has desired all of you, and he was saddened because you had heard that he was sickFor he was sick, even unto death, but God took pity on him, and not only on him, but truly on myself also, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrowTherefore, I sent him more readily, in order that, by seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrowAnd so, receive him with every joy in the Lord, and treat all those like him with honorFor he was brought close even to death, for the sake of the work of Christ, handing over his own life, so that he might fulfill what was lacking from you concerning my service
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