Philippians 2:10-30

10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow  — in heaven and on earth and under the earth  —

11and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

14Do everything without grumbling and arguing,

15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world,

16by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.

17But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

18In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you.

20For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests;

21all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

22But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.

23Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

24I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.

25But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus  — my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need  —

26since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick.

27Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious.

29Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor,

30because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.