Unity in Christ
THEREFORE, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercies;
2 Complete my joy, that you be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one purpose.
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or vain pride; rather in humility esteem others better than yourselves.
4 Let not each man look out for himself, rather each man for others also.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 ¶ Who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized:
7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in outward form as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God has also highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 ¶ Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which works in you: both for his will, and to work what pleases him.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputes:
15 That you may be blameless and pure, the sons of God, without reproach, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding fast the word of life; that I may boast in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I am poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad, and rejoice with you all.
18 And for the same cause you are also glad, and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 ¶ And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I may be encouraged when I have news concerning you.
20 For I have no one likeminded, who will genuinely care about you.
21 For all seek for their own selves, not the things of Christ Jesus.
22 But you know of his proven worth; that, as a son with a father, he has served together with me in the gospel.
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as I wait and see how things go with me.
24 And I am confident in the Lord that I, myself shall also come shortly.
25 ¶ Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and fellow worker, and fellow soldier, and your apostle, and servant of my needs.
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of distress, because you had heard that he had been sick.
27 For indeed he was sick, near to death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 I sent him therefore eagerly, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be free from anxiety.
29 Therefore receive him in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such men as this in high regard:
30 That, because of the work of Christ he was near to death, exposing his life to danger, to supply that which your service lacked toward me.