Chapter 2

¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration: ²Fulfil ye my joy, that you may be of one mind, having the same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment. ³Let nothing be done through contention, neither by vain glory: but in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves: ⁴Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men's. ⁵For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. ⁸He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. ⁹For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names: ¹⁰That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: ¹¹And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. ¹²Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence,) with fear and trembling work out your salvation. ¹³For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will. ¹⁴And do ye all things without murmurings and hesitations; ¹⁵That you may be blameless, and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom you shine as lights in the world. ¹⁶Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ, because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain. ¹⁷Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and congratulate with you all. ¹⁸And for the selfsame thing do you also rejoice, and congratulate with me. ¹⁹And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy unto you shortly, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know the things concerning you. ²⁰For I have no man so of the same mind, who with sincere affection is solicitous for you. ²¹For all seek the things that are their own; not the things that are Jesus Christ's. ²²Now know ye the proof of him, that as a son with the father, so hath he served with me in the gospel. ²³Him therefore I hope to send unto you immediately, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. ²⁴And I trust in the Lord, that I myself also shall come to you shortly. ²⁵But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow labourer, and fellow soldier, but your apostle, and he that hath ministered to my wants. ²⁶For indeed he longed after you all: and was sad, for that you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷For indeed he was sick, nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him; and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I sent him the more speedily: that seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow. ²⁹Receive him therefore with all joy in the Lord; and treat with honour such as he is. ³⁰Because for the work of Christ he came to the point of death: delivering his life, that he might fulfil that which on your part was wanting towards my service.