2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with 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 purpose.
2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
2:6 Who, being in very nature [Or in the form of] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature [Or the form] of a servant, being made in human likeness.
2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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 according to his good purpose.
2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
2:16 as you hold out [Or hold on to] the word of life in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing.
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.
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 takes a genuine interest in your welfare.
2:21 For everyone looks out for his 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, fellow-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 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him,
2:30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.