Chapter 2

If, therefore, there is any comfort in Christ, any encouragement from charity, any fellowship in the Spirit, any feelings of mercy,

fill up my joy by thinking alike, having the same charity, with one soul and one mind.

Do nothing out of contentiousness or out of vainglory, but in humility let each one regard the others as his superiors,

each one looking not to his own interests but to those of others.

Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

who though he was by nature God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be clung to,

but emptied himself, taking the nature of a slave and being made like unto men. And appearing in the form of a man,

he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross.

Therefore God also has exalted him and has bestowed upon him the name that is above every name,

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

and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. Fear and Joy in Serving

Wherefore, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God who of his good pleasure works in you both the will and the performance.

Do all things without murmuring and without questioning,

so as to be blameless and guileless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a depraved and perverse generation. For among these you shine like stars in the world,

holding fast the word of life to my glory against the day of Christ; because not in vain have I run, neither in vain have I labored.

But even if I am made the libation for the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you.

And in the same way do you also joy and rejoice with me. Timothy

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus shortly to send Timothy to you, that I also may be of good cheer when I know your circumstances.

For I have no one so like-minded who is so genuinely solicitous for you.

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

But know his worth: as child serves father, so he has served with me in spreading the gospel.

I hope then to send him to you as soon as I see how things stand with me.

But I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come to you shortly. Epaphroditus

But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, but for you a messenger and the minister to my need.

For he was longing for all of you and was grieved because you had heard that he was sick.

Yes, he was sick, almost unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Therefore I send him the more speedily, in order that seeing him again you may rejoice and that I may be free from sorrow.

Welcome him, then, with all joy in the Lord and show honor to men like him,

because for the work of Christ he drew near to death, risking his life to supply what was lacking for your service to me.