1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, any comfort from his love, any sharing in the Spirit, or any tenderness and compassion,
2then make my joy complete by having the same attitude, sharing the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a need to look important, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4Everyone should look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.
5You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had.
6He already existed in the form of God, but he did not consider equality with God as something to be held on to.
7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a servant and was born as a human being.
8And when he appeared in human form, he humbled himself and was obedient to death—even death on a cross.
9Because of this, God raised him up to the highest place and gave him the name that is greater than every other name.
10He did this so that everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth would bow at the name of Jesus,
11and that everyone would admit that Jesus Christ is Lord, bringing glory to God the Father.
12So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but now even more when I am absent, continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13Because it is God who is working in you, giving you both the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14Do everything without complaining or arguing,
15so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the middle of a crooked and twisted generation. Among them, you shine like stars in the world,
16holding firmly to the message of life. Then, on the day of Christ, I will have reason to boast that I did not run or work in vain.
17Yes, even if my life is poured out as an offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am joyful, and I rejoice with all of you.
18In the same way, you also should be joyful and rejoice with me.
19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear how you are doing.
20For I have no one else who thinks like him, who will genuinely care about your well-being.
21For everyone else looks out for their own interests, not for those of Jesus Christ.
22But you know how Timothy has proven himself, because like a son serving his father, he has served with me in spreading the Good News.
23Therefore, I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how things will go for me.
24But I trust in the Lord that I myself will also come to you soon.
25However, I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier. He is also your messenger and the one who helped me in my need;
26He missed all of you and was very upset because you had heard he was sick.
27He really was sick and almost died, but God had mercy on him. And not only on him, but also on me, so I wouldn't have one sorrow after another.
28That's why I sent him back to you as quickly as possible. When you see him again, you'll be happy, and I'll be less sad.
29So welcome him with complete joy as a brother in the Lord, and show respect to people like him,
30because he nearly died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to give me the help you weren't able to offer.