Philippians 2 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Have the Attitude of Christ

Phl 2:1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?

Phl 2:2

Phl 2:2Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Phl 2:3

Phl 2:3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Phl 2:4

Phl 2:4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Phl 2:5

Phl 2:5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Phl 2:6

Phl 2:6Though he was God,[fn]
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.

Phl 2:7

Phl 2:7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[fn];
he took the humble position of a slave[fn]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[fn]

Phl 2:8

Phl 2:8he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Phl 2:9

Phl 2:9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,

Phl 2:10

Phl 2:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Phl 2:11

Phl 2:11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Shine Brightly for Christ

Phl 2:12

Phl 2:12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

Phl 2:13

Phl 2:13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Phl 2:14

Phl 2:14Do everything without complaining and arguing,

Phl 2:15

Phl 2:15so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Phl 2:16

Phl 2:16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

Phl 2:17

Phl 2:17But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God,[fn] just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.

Phl 2:18

Phl 2:18Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

Paul Commends Timothy

Phl 2:19

Phl 2:19If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along.

Phl 2:20

Phl 2:20I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.

Phl 2:21

Phl 2:21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.

Phl 2:22

Phl 2:22But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News.

Phl 2:23

Phl 2:23I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.

Phl 2:24

Phl 2:24And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

Paul Commends Epaphroditus

Phl 2:25

Phl 2:25Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.

Phl 2:26

Phl 2:26I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill.

Phl 2:27

Phl 2:27And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

Phl 2:28

Phl 2:28So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you.

Phl 2:29

Phl 2:29Welcome him with Christian love[fn] and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.

Phl 2:30

Phl 2:30For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.