2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 2:4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 2:7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 2:11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 2:14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 2:16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 2:18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 2:20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 2:22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 2:23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 2:24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. 2:25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 2:26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 2:27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 2:28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 2:29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 2:30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.