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1 IF there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, | |
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. | |
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. | |
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. | |
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: | |
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: | |
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: | |
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. | |
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: | |
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; | |
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | |
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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 worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. | |
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: | |
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; | |
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. | |
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. | |
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. | |
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. | |
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. | |
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. | |
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. | |
23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. | |
24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. | |
25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. | |
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. | |
27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. | |
28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. | |
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: | |
30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. | |
