1 Unity Through Humility Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any Col. 3:12 affection and mercy,
2 John 3:29 fulfill my joy Rom. 12:16 by being like-minded, having the same love, being of Phil. 4:2 one accord, of one mind.
3 Gal. 5:26; James 3:14 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but Rom. 12:10; Eph. 5:21 in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 1 Cor. 13:5 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of Rom. 15:1, 2 others.
5 The Humbled and Exalted Christ (Matt. 11:29); Rom. 15:3 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, 2 Cor. 4:4 being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 Ps. 22:6 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form Is. 42:1 of a bondservant, and (John 1:14); Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4; (Heb. 2:17) coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and Ps. 40:6–8; Matt. 26:39; John 10:18; (Rom. 5:19) became Heb. 5:8 obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 (Matt. 28:18); Heb. 2:9 Therefore God also Ps. 68:18; 110:1; Is. 52:13; Acts 2:33 has highly exalted Him and Is. 9:6; Luke 1:32; Eph. 1:21 given Him the name which is above every name,
10 Is. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Rev. 5:13 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and John 13:13; (Rom. 10:9; 14:9) that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Light Bearers Therefore, my beloved, Phil. 1:5, 6; 4:15 as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, John 6:27, 29;2 Pet. 1:10 work out your own salvation with Eph. 6:5 fear and trembling;
13 for Rom. 12:3;1 Cor. 12:6; 15:10;2 Cor. 3:5; Heb. 13:20, 21 it is God who works in you both to will and to do Eph. 1:5 for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things 1 Cor. 10:10;1 Pet. 4:9 without complaining and Rom. 14:1 disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as Matt. 5:15, 16 lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that 2 Cor. 1:14 I may rejoice in the day of Christ that Gal. 2:2 I have not run in vain or labored in Is. 49:4; Gal. 4:11;1 Thess. 3:5 vain.
17 Yes, and if 2 Cor. 12:15;2 Tim. 4:6 I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice Num. 28:6, 7; Rom. 15:16 and service of your faith, 2 Cor. 7:4 I am glad and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
19 Timothy Commended But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Rom. 16:21 Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
20 For I have no one 1 Cor. 16:10;2 Tim. 3:10 like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
22 But you know his proven character, 1 Cor. 4:17 that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
25 Epaphroditus Praised Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Phil. 4:18 Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and Philem. 2 fellow soldier, John 13:16;2 Cor. 8:23 but your messenger and 2 Cor. 11:9 the one who ministered to my need;
26 Phil. 1:8 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, 1 Cor. 16:17; Phil. 4:10 to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.