^2:1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love^*, if any fellowship of the spirit^*, if any affections^* and mercies, ^2:2 fulfill^° my joy, in-order-that you^° may be mindful of the same thing, have the same love^*, be one in spirit^*, being mindful of the one thing, ^2:3 nothing according-to selfish-ambition or empty conceit, but in humility: deeming one another superior to yourselves, ^2:4 each one, do^° not note the things of yourselves, but each one note also the things of others. ^2:5 For^* let this mindset be in you^°, which was also in Christ Jesus, ^2:6 who, existing in the form of God, did not deem it a seizure to be equal to God, ^2:7 but emptied himself, and took the form of a bondservant, after he became in the likeness of men; ^2:8 and was found in the shape as a man, he humbled himself, when he became obedient^* insofar-as death, and even death of a cross. ^2:9 Hence, God also highly exalted him, and granted to him a name, the one above every name; ^2:10 in-order-that every knee should bow in the name of Jesus, those from the heavenly and earthly and subterranean places, ^2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

      ^2:12 So-then my beloved, just-as you^° have always obeyed^*, not only as in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work^° out your^° own salvation with fear and trembling. ^2:13 For^* it is God who is working in you^° both to will and to work, on behalf of his delight. ^2:14 Do^*° all things without murmurings and arguments, ^2:15 in-order-that you^° might become blameless and harmless children of God, flawless in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you^° appear as illuminations in the world. ^2:16 Keep holding forth the word of life, ^*for a boasting to me in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain nor labored in vain. ^2:17 But even if I am a drink-offering upon the sacrifice and ministry^* of your^° faith, I am rejoicing, and even rejoicing together-with you^° all. ^2:18 Now you^° also, rejoice^° and rejoice^° together-with me in the same thing.

      ^2:19 Now I am hoping in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you^° shortly, in-order-that I may also be in good-spirits after I knew about the things concerning you^°. ^2:20 For^* I have no one equal in spirit^*, who will be genuinely anxious about the things concerning you^°. ^2:21 For^* they are all seeking their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. ^2:22 But you^° know the trial of him, that as a child serves a father, so he served^* together-with me ^*for the good-news. ^2:23 Therefore, I am indeed hoping to send this one promptly, as I would look away from the things around me {i.e., figuring out what to do next}, ^2:24 but I have confidence in the Lord that I myself will also be coming shortly.

      ^2:25 But I deemed it necessary to send to you^° Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your^° ambassador^* and minister^* to my need, ^2:26 since he was longing-for you^° all, and was deeply-depressed because you^° had heard that he was sick. ^2:27 For^* he also was sick, close to death. But God showed-mercy on him, now not him only, but also me, in-order-that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. ^2:28 Therefore, I sent him more diligently, in-order-that after you^° saw him again, you^° should rejoice and I may be sorrow-free. ^2:29 Therefore, accept^° him in the Lord with all joy, and hold^° the ones who are such as admired, ^2:30 because he drew near almost insofar-as death, because of the work of the Christ, he disregarded the life, in-order-that he might fill the lack in your^° ministry^* toward me.