Being One in Christ
1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
The Attitude of Christ
(Isaiah 52:13-15)
5Let 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 made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Shining as Stars
(Matthew 5:13-16)
12Wherefore, 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. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15That 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; 16Holding 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. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19But 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. 20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. 22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. 23Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. 24But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
Epaphroditus Commended
25Yet 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. 26For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 27For 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. 28I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: 30Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
One in Christ
(Ephesians 2:11–18)
1 If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, 2 make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
The Mind of Christ
(Isaiah 52:13–15)
5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Lights in the World
(Matthew 5:13–16)
12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputes, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, 16 holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all. 18 In the same way, you also rejoice, and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
(1 Corinthians 16:10–12)
19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing. 20 For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you. 21 For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.
25 But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need; 26 since he longed for you all, and was very troubled, because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. 28 I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor, 30 because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
One in Christ
(Ephesians 2:11–18)
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
The Mind of Christ
(Isaiah 52:13–15)
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped, a
7 but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name above all names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Lights in the World
(Matthew 5:13–16)
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, b in which you shine as lights in the world 16 as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
(1 Corinthians 16:10–12)
19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. 20 I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs. 21 For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel. 23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me. 24 And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs. 26 For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.
Footnotes:
6 a Or something to be exploited
15 b Deuteronomy 32:5
Being One in Christ
1If, then, any exhortation is in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2fulfil ye my joy, that ye may mind the same thing -- having the same love -- of one soul -- minding the one thing, 3nothing in rivalry or vain-glory, but in humility of mind one another counting more excellent than yourselves -- 4each not to your own look ye, but each also to the things of others.
The Attitude of Christ
(Isaiah 52:13-15)
5For, let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God, 7but did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made, 8and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death -- death even of a cross, 9wherefore, also, God did highly exalt him, and gave to him a name that is above every name, 10that in the name of Jesus every knee may bow -- of heavenlies, and earthlies, and what are under the earth -- 11and every tongue may confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Shining as Stars
(Matthew 5:13-16)
12So that, my beloved, as ye always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling your own salvation work out, 13for God it is who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
14All things do without murmurings and reasonings, 15that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God, unblemished in the midst of a generation crooked and perverse, among whom ye do appear as luminaries in the world, 16the word of life holding forth, for rejoicing to me in regard to a day of Christ, that not in vain did I run, nor in vain did I labour; 17but if also I am poured forth upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and joy with you all, 18because of this do ye also rejoice and joy with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19And I hope, in the Lord Jesus, Timotheus to send quickly to you, that I also may be of good spirit, having known the things concerning you, 20for I have no one like-minded, who sincerely for the things concerning you will care, 21for the whole seek their own things, not the things of the Christ Jesus, 22and the proof of him ye know, that as a child serveth a father, with me he did serve in regard to the good news; 23him, indeed, therefore, I hope to send, when I may see through the things concerning me -- immediately; 24and I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall quickly come.
Epaphroditus Commended
25And I thought it necessary Epaphroditus -- my brother, and fellow-workman, and fellow-soldier, and your apostle and servant to my need -- to send unto you, 26seeing he was longing after you all, and in heaviness, because ye heard that he ailed, 27for he also ailed nigh to death, but God did deal kindly with him, and not with him only, but also with me, that sorrow upon sorrow I might not have. 28The more eagerly, therefore, I did send him, that having seen him again ye may rejoice, and I may be the less sorrowful; 29receive him, therefore, in the Lord, with all joy, and hold such in honour, 30because on account of the work of the Christ he drew near to death, having hazarded the life that he might fill up your deficiency of service unto me.
The Favor of God paraphrase
Imitating Christ’s Humility
¹ If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage;
⁷ rather, He made Himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
⁹ Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name that 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 every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Continue to Work Out Your Salvation
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! ¹³ For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.
¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 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. ¹⁸ So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Paul’s Fellow Workers
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. ²⁰ I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 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. ²³ I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
²⁵ But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶ For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 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. 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. ²⁹ So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, ³⁰ because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.
Footnotes:
1.“Made Himself nothing” (verse 7) comes from the Greek word ekenosen, meaning to “empty” or “pour out.” This passage, known as the Kenosis Hymn, describes how Jesus relinquished His divine privileges to serve humanity as a humble servant.
2.“Every knee should bow” (verse 10) alludes to Isaiah 45:23, where God declares that every knee will bow to Him. Paul applies this prophetic vision to Jesus, signifying His ultimate authority and lordship.
3.“Work out your salvation” (verse 12) doesn’t imply earning salvation, but rather continuing in the journey of living out the implications of salvation with a deep sense of reverence and responsibility, trusting God to work in you.
4.“Shine like stars” (verse 15) uses imagery of light shining in darkness, reflecting the witness of Christians who live in a world marked by moral corruption. Their lives stand out, pointing others to Christ.
5.“Drink offering” (verse 17) refers to a ritual in ancient sacrifices where wine was poured out on the altar. Paul uses this as a metaphor for his life being offered in service to God, symbolizing his willingness to give everything for the gospel.
6.“Genuine concern for your welfare” (verse 20) emphasizes Timothy’s selfless dedication to the Philippians. In contrast to others who may prioritize their own agendas, Timothy models the heart of Christ by caring deeply for the well-being of others.
7.“Risked his life” (verse 30) underscores Epaphroditus’ commitment to the work of Christ, even to the point of facing death. This self-sacrifice is lifted as a model of courage and faithfulness in serving the mission of the gospel.
