001 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
002 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
003 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
004 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
005 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
006 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
007 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
008 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
009 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
010 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
011 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
012 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
013 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
014 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
015 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
016 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
017 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
018 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
019 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
020 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
021 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
022 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
023 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
024 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
025 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
026 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
027 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
028 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
029 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
030 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.