The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians

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- Chapter 2 -

(Ephesians 2:11–18)

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.

The Mind of Christ

(Isaiah 52:13–15)

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.(a)

Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a man.(b)

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,(c)

and so that every tongue would confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

(Matthew 5:13–16)

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.(d)

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.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

(1 Corinthians 16:10–12)

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.

Footnotes

(a)2:6 The Three Persons of the Trinity are equal in Divine Nature, but not equal in Divine Personhood.(Conte)

(b)2:7 Emptied himself, exinanivit:made himself as of no account.(Challoner)

(c)2:10 Even in hell, the souls there know and admit that Jesus Christ is the Lord of all Creation, of heaven and of earth and of hell.(Conte)

(d)2:12 With fear, etc:This is against the false faith, and presumptuous security of modern sectaries.(Challoner)

(Ephesians 2:11–18)

If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,

make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

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)

Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,

who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,

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)

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.

For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do all things without complaining and arguing,

that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

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.

Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

In the same way, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

(1 Corinthians 16:10–12)

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.

For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.

For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

But you know that he has proved himself. As a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.

But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.

But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,

since he longed for you all, and was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick.

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.

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.

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor,

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.