Philippians 2:6-30

6who, although He 1existed in the 2form of God, 3did not regard equality with God a thing to be 4grasped, 7but 56emptied Himself, taking the form of a 7bond-servant, and 8being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, 9He humbled Himself by becoming 10obedient to the point of death, even 11death 12on a cross. 913For this reason also, God 14highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him 15the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus 16every knee will bow, of 17those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is 18Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12So then, my beloved, 19just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your 20salvation with 21fear and trembling; 13for it is 22God who is at work in you, both to will and to work 23for His good pleasure.

14Do all things without 24grumbling or disputing; 15so that you will 25prove yourselves to be 26blameless and innocent, 27children of God above reproach in the midst of a 28crooked and perverse generation, among whom you 2930appear as 31lights in the world, 16holding 32fast the word of life, so that in 33the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not 34run in vain nor 35toil in vain. 17But even if I am being 36poured out as a drink offering upon 37the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

19But I hope 38in the Lord Jesus to 39send 40Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20For I have no one else 41of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21For they all 42seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22But you know 43of his proven worth, that 44he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel 45like a child serving his father. 2346Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24and 47I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. 25But I thought it necessary to send to you 48Epaphroditus, my brother and 49fellow worker and 50fellow soldier, who is also your 5152messenger and 53minister to my need; 26because he was longing 54for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. 2955Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and 56hold men like him in high regard; 30because he came close to death 5758for the work of Christ, risking his life to 59complete 60what was deficient in your service to me.