Philippians 2:12-4:19

English Standard Version

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my beloved, ^(A)as you have always ^(B)obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for ^(C)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ^(D)his good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things ^(E)without grumbling or ^(F)disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, ^(G)children of God ^(H)without blemish ^(I)in the midst of ^(J)a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine ^(K)as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast to ^(L)the word of life, so that in ^(M)the day of Christ ^(N)I may be proud that ^(O)I did not run in vain or labor in vain. ¹⁷ Even if I am to be ^(P)poured out as a drink offering upon ^(Q)the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus ^(R)to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. ²⁰ For I have no one ^(S)like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all ^(T)seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know Timothy's^{[a] (U)}proven worth, how ^(V)as a son^[b] with a father ^(W)he has served with me in the gospel. ²³ I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, ²⁴ and ^(X)I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

²⁵ I have thought it necessary to send to you ^(Y)Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and ^(Z)fellow soldier, and your messenger and ^(AA)minister to my need, ²⁶ for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed 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. ²⁸ I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. ²⁹ So ^(AB)receive him in the Lord with all joy, and ^(AC)honor such men, ³⁰ for he nearly died^{[c] (AD)}for the work of Christ, risking his life ^(AE)to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

3 Finally, my brothers,^{[d] (AF)}rejoice in the Lord. ^(AG)To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

² Look out for ^(AH)the dogs, look out for ^(AI)the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For ^(AJ)we are the circumcision, ^(AK)who worship ^(AL)by the Spirit of God^[e] and ^(AM)glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— ^4 (AN)though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ^5 (AO)circumcised on the eighth day, ^(AP)of the people of Israel, ^(AQ)of the tribe of Benjamin, ^(AR)a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, ^(AS)a Pharisee; ^6 (AT)as to zeal, ^(AU)a persecutor of the church; ^(AV)as to righteousness under the law,^[f] blameless. ⁷ But ^(AW)whatever gain I had, ^(AX)I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of ^(AY)the surpassing worth of ^(AZ)knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I ^(BA)have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having ^(BB)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but ^(BC)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ^10 (BD)that I may know him and ^(BE)the power of his resurrection, and ^(BF)may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may ^(BG)attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

¹² Not that I have already ^(BH)obtained this or ^(BI)am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: ^(BJ)forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for ^(BK)the prize of the upward ^(BL)call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let those of us who are ^(BM)mature think this way, and if in anything ^(BN)you think otherwise, ^(BO)God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only ^(BP)let us hold true to what we have attained.

¹⁷ Brothers, ^(BQ)join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk ^(BR)according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸ For ^(BS)many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you ^(BT)even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ^19 (BU)Their end is destruction, ^(BV)their god is their belly, and ^(BW)they glory in their shame, with ^(BX)minds set on earthly things. ²⁰ But ^(BY)our citizenship is in heaven, and ^(BZ)from it we ^(CA)await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform ^(CB)our lowly body ^(CC)to be like his glorious body, ^(CD)by the power that enables him even ^(CE)to subject all things to himself.

4 Therefore, my brothers,^[g] whom I love and ^(CF)long for, ^(CG)my joy and ^(CH)crown, ^(CI)stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

² I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to ^(CJ)agree in the Lord. ³ Yes, I ask you also, true companion,^[h] help these women, who have labored^[i] side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, ^(CK)whose names are in the book of life.

^4 (CL)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness^[j] be known to everyone. ^(CM)The Lord is at hand; ^6 (CN)do not be anxious about anything, ^(CO)but in everything by prayer and supplication ^(CP)with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And ^(CQ)the peace of God, ^(CR)which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned^[k] and ^(CS)received and heard and seen ^(CT)in me—practice these things, and ^(CU)the God of peace will be with you.

God's Provision

¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length ^(CV)you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be ^(CW)content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and ^(CX)hunger, abundance and ^(CY)need. ¹³ I can do all things ^(CZ)through him who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Yet it was kind of you ^(DA)to share^[l] my trouble. ¹⁵ And you Philippians yourselves know that ^(DB)in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, ^(DC)no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. ¹⁶ Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. ^17 (DD)Not that I seek the gift, but I seek ^(DE)the fruit that increases to your credit.^{[m] 18} I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, ^(DF)having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, ^(DG)a fragrant offering, ^(DH)a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God ^(DI)will supply every need of yours ^(DJ)according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.