One in Christ
(Ephesians 2:11–18)

1Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any inner affections and compassions, 2fulfill my joy so that you⁺ may be of the same mind, having the same love, united in soul, minding the one thing, 3nothing according to self-interest or according to vain conceit, but in humility esteeming one another surpassing yourselves, 4each looking at not the things of yourselves, but each also the things of others.

The Mind of Christ
(Isaiah 52:13–15)

5Let this mind be in you⁺ that was also in Christ Jesus:

6Who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider to be equal with God

something to be grasped,†

7but emptied Himself,

having taken the form of a servant,

having been made in the likeness of men.

8And having been found in appearance as a man

He humbled Himself,

having become obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9Therefore God also highly exalted Him

and granted to Him the name above every name,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in the heavens and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World
(Matthew 5:13–16)

12Therefore, my beloved, just as always you⁺ obeyed, not only as in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For God is the One working in you⁺ both to will and to work on behalf of His good pleasure.

14Do all things without grumblings and disputings, 15so that you⁺ may be blameless and innocent, children of God unblemished in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,† among whom you⁺ shine as lights in the world, 16holding forth the word of life for a boast to me in the day of Christ that I did not run in vain, nor did I toil in vain.

17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your⁺ faith, I rejoice and rejoice with you⁺ all. 18And likewise you⁺ also be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus
(1 Corinthians 16:10–12)

19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you⁺ soon, that I also may be of good spirit, having known the things concerning you⁺. 20For I have no one like-minded, who genuinely will care for the things concerning you⁺. 21For those all seek the things of themselves, not the things of Jesus Christ.† 22But you⁺ know his proven worth, that as a child with a father he served with me in the gospel. 23Therefore indeed I hope to send him immediately, when I shall have seen the things concerning me. 24And I am persuaded in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.

25Now I deemed it necessary to send to you⁺ Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your⁺ messenger and minister of my need, 26since he was longing for† you⁺ all and being deeply distressed because you⁺ heard that he was sick. 27And indeed he was sick, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28Therefore I sent him all the more eagerly, so that having seen him again you⁺ may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. 29Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor, 30because on account of the work of Christ† he drew near unto death, having disregarded his life so that he might fill up your⁺ deficiency of service toward me.

Footnotes:

6 Or something to be exploited
15 Deuteronomy 32:5
21 NE, WH, BYZ, and TR Christ Jesus
26 WH longing to see
30 WH of the Lord