International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Therefore, if there is any encouragement in the Messiah, if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship in the Spirit, if there is any compassion and sympathy,

1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

2then fill me with joy by having the same attitude, sharing the same love, being united in spirit, and keeping one purpose in mind.

2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

3Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves.

3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.

4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Messiah Jesus:

5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6In God's own form existed he, and shared with God equality, deemed nothing needed grasping.

6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7Instead, poured out in emptiness, a servant's form did he possess, a mortal man becoming. In human form he chose to be,

7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8and lived in all humility, death on a cross obeying.

8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9Now lifted up by God to heaven, a name above all others given, this matchless name possessing.

9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10And so, when Jesus' name is called, the knees of everyone should fall, wherever they're residing.

10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11Then every tongue in one accord, will say that Jesus the Messiah is Lord, while God the Father praising.

11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

13For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him.

13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14Do everything without complaining or arguing

14Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

15so that you may be blameless and innocent, God's children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world

15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

16as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I will be proud when the Messiah returns that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain.

16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

17Yet even if I am being poured out like an offering as part of the sacrifice and service I offer for your faith, I rejoice, and I share my joy with all of you.

17Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

18In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I can be encouraged when I learn of your condition.

19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.

20I do not have anyone else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.

20For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

21For all the others look after their own interests, not after those of Jesus the Messiah.

21For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

22But you know his proven worth—how like a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.

22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

23Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things are going to turn out for me.

23I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,

24Indeed, I am confident in the Lord that I will come to visit you soon.

24and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25Meanwhile, I thought it best to send Epaphroditus—my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need—back to you.

25I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,

26For he has been longing for all of you and is troubled because you heard that he was sick.

26for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.

27Indeed, he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow on top of another.

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.

28Therefore, I am especially eager to send him so that you may have the joy of seeing him again, and so that I may feel relieved.

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 joyfully welcome him in the Lord and make sure you honor such people highly,

29So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,

30because he came close to death for the work of the Messiah by risking his life to complete what remained unfinished in your service to me.

30for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.