Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, any solace of charity, any fellowship of the Spirit, any feelings of commiseration
complete my joy by having the same understanding, holding to the same charity, being of one mind, with the same sentiment
Let nothing be done by contention, nor in vain glory. Instead, in humility, let each of you esteem others to be better than himself
Let each of you not consider anything to be your own, but rather to belong to others
For this understanding in you was also in Christ Jesus
who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized
Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a man
He humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even the death of the Cross
Because of this, God has also exalted him and has given him a name which is above every name
so that, at the name of Jesus, every knee would bend, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those in hell
and so that every tongue would confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father
And so, my most beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but even more so now in my absence: work toward your salvation with fear and trembling
For it is God who works in you, both so as to choose, and so as to act, in accord with his good will
And do everything without murmuring or hesitation
So may you be without blame, simple sons of God, without reproof, in the midst of a depraved and perverse nation, among whom you shine like lights in the world
holding to the Word of Life, until my glory in the day of Christ. For I have not run in vain, nor have I labored in vain
Moreover, if I am to be immolated because of the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and give thanks with all of you
And over this same thing, you also should rejoice and give thanks, together with me
Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, in order that I may be encouraged, when I know the things concerning you
For I have no one else with such an agreeable mind, who, with sincere affection, is solicitous for you
For they all seek the things that are of themselves, not the things that are of Jesus Christ
So know this evidence of him: that like a son with a father, so has he served with me in the Gospel
Therefore, I hope to send him to you immediately, as soon as I see what will happen concerning me
But I trust in the Lord that I myself will also return to you soon
Now I have considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and co-worker, and fellow soldier, and an attendant to my needs, but your Apostle
For certainly, he has desired all of you, and he was saddened because you had heard that he was sick
For he was sick, even unto death, but God took pity on him, and not only on him, but truly on myself also, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow
Therefore, I sent him more readily, in order that, by seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow
And so, receive him with every joy in the Lord, and treat all those like him with honor
For he was brought close even to death, for the sake of the work of Christ, handing over his own life, so that he might fulfill what was lacking from you concerning my service