Philippians 2-4

New International Version

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,^(A) if any tenderness and compassion,^(B) ²then make my joy complete^(C) by being like-minded,^(D) having the same love, being one^(E) in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.^(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,^(G) ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.^(H)

⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^(I)

⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God,^(J)
    did not consider equality with God^(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷rather, he made himself nothing^(L)
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,^(M)
    being made in human likeness.^(N)
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death^(O)—
        even death on a cross!^(P)

⁹Therefore God exalted him^(Q) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,^(R)
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,^(S)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,^(T)
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,^(U)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

¹²Therefore, 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,^(V) ¹³for it is God who works in you^(W) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.^(X)

¹⁴Do everything without grumbling^(Y) or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless^(Z) and pure, “children of God^(AA) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[c]^(AB) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ^(AC) that I did not run^(AD) or labor in vain.^(AE) ¹⁷But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering^(AF) on the sacrifice^(AG) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.^(AH) ¹⁸So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy^(AI) to you soon,^(AJ) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰I have no one else like him,^(AK) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹For everyone looks out for their own interests,^(AL) not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father^(AM) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.^(AN) ²⁴And I am confident^(AO) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker^(AP) and fellow soldier,^(AQ) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.^(AR) ²⁶For he longs for all of you^(AS) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed 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. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,^(AT) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,^(AU) ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.^(AV)

No Confidence in the Flesh

3 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,^(AW) and it is a safeguard for you. ²Watch out for those dogs,^(AX) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. ³For it is we who are the circumcision,^(AY) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,^(AZ) and who put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴though I myself have reasons for such confidence.^(BA)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised^(BB) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,^(BC) of the tribe of Benjamin,^(BD) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;^(BE) ⁶as for zeal,^(BF) persecuting the church;^(BG) as for righteousness based on the law,^(BH) faultless.

⁷But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss^(BI) for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing^(BJ) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ^(BK) ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,^(BL) but that which is through faith in^[d] Christ—the righteousness^(BM) that comes from God on the basis of faith.^(BN) ¹⁰I want to know^(BO) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,^(BP) becoming like him in his death,^(BQ) ¹¹and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection^(BR) from the dead.

¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,^(BS) but I press on to take hold^(BT) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.^(BU) ¹³Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(BV) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on^(BW) toward the goal to win the prize^(BX) for which God has called^(BY) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵All of us, then, who are mature^(BZ) should take such a view of things.^(CA) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.^(CB) ¹⁶Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷Join together in following my example,^(CC) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.^(CD) ¹⁸For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,^(CE) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.^(CF) ¹⁹Their destiny^(CG) is destruction, their god is their stomach,^(CH) and their glory is in their shame.^(CI) Their mind is set on earthly things.^(CJ) ²⁰But our citizenship^(CK) is in heaven.^(CL) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,^(CM) ²¹who, by the power^(CN) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies^(CO) so that they will be like his glorious body.^(CP)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,^(CQ) my joy and crown, stand firm^(CR) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

²I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind^(CS) in the Lord. ³Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,^(CT) whose names are in the book of life.^(CU)

Final Exhortations

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!^(CV) ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.^(CW) ⁶Do not be anxious about anything,^(CX) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.^(CY) ⁷And the peace of God,^(CZ) which transcends all understanding,^(DA) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.^(DB) And the God of peace^(DC) will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.^(DD) Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content^(DE) whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,^(DF) whether living in plenty or in want.^(DG) ¹³I can do all this through him who gives me strength.^(DH)

¹⁴Yet it was good of you to share^(DI) in my troubles. ¹⁵Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days^(DJ) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,^(DK) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;^(DL) ¹⁶for even when I was in Thessalonica,^(DM) you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.^(DN) ¹⁷Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.^(DO) ¹⁸I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus^(DP) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant^(DQ) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God will meet all your needs^(DR) according to the riches of his glory^(DS) in Christ Jesus.

²⁰To our God and Father^(DT) be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(DU)

Final Greetings

²¹Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me^(DV) send greetings. ²²All God’s people^(DW) here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

²³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ^(DX) be with your spirit.^(DY) Amen.^[e]