Philippians 2

1 Therefore if [as a consequence of your faith] you have any encouragement [exhortation, comfort] in Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], if any comfort [consolation, solace] from His love [unconditional affection, charity], if any fellowship [participation, communion] with the Spirit [the divine breath, God’s presence], if any affection [tender mercies, pity] and compassion [sympathy, mercies], word study 2 then make my joy [deep and lasting happiness] complete by being like-minded [of the same mind], having the same love [unconditional affection, agape], being united [harmonious, symphonic] in spirit [the inner being, the soul] and purpose [one accord, a unified goal]. word study 3 Do nothing [out of strife or rivalry] out of selfish ambition [vain conceit] or empty pride [vainglory, a false sense of importance], but in humility [lowliness of mind, meekness] consider others [one another, each other] more important [better, superior] than yourselves [than you do of yourself]. word study 4 Each [every individual, one by one] of you should look [consider, pay attention to] not only to your own [personal, private] interests [concerns, needs], but also [in addition, furthermore] to the interests [needs, things] of others [those around you, neighboring people]. word study 5 Let [have, possess] this mind [attitude, way of thinking] be in you [within your heart, among your thoughts] which [exactly as] was also [just as] in Christ Jesus [the Anointed One, God’s salvation]: word study 6 Who, existing [being in the nature of, having the same form as] in the form [outward appearance] of God [the one true deity], did not consider [think, regard] equality [being the same, having equal status] with God [the supreme ruler] something to be grasped [seized, plundered, a thing to be taken by force], word study 7 but emptied [made himself of no reputation, gave up divine privileges] Himself, taking [accepting, receiving] the form [outward appearance, likeness] of a servant [slave, bondservant], being made [becoming, coming into existence] in human [man’s, people’s] likeness [resemblance, similarity]. word study 8 And being found [in human form, in fashion] in appearance as a man [a human being], He humbled [lowered Himself, became obedient] Himself [His own will, eauton] and became obedient [submissive] to death [physical and spiritual]— even [unto, until] death [the ultimate sacrifice] on a cross [an instrument of capital punishment]. word study 9 Therefore [as a consequence of His obedience] God [the supreme deity, Creator of all] exalted [lifted up to the highest position of honor] Him to the highest place [a rank above every other rank] and gave [graciously bestowed] Him the name [a title representing His character and authority] above [superior to, surpassing] all names [every title, reputation, or dignity], word study 10 that at the name [character or authority] of Jesus [God is salvation] every knee [a sign of respect or prayer] should bow [bend in reverence], in heaven [the spiritual realm] and on earth [the physical world] and under the earth [the subterranean or underworld, including departed spirits], word study 11 and every [all, each one] tongue [language, nation] confess [acknowledge, declare] that Jesus [Joshua, God’s salvation] Christ [the Anointed, Messiah] is Lord [Master, God], to the glory [honor, praise] of God [Creator] the Father [eternal, heavenly]. word study 12 Therefore, my beloved [dearly loved, cherished], just as you have always [at all times, continually] obeyed, not only [exclusively] in my presence [when I am near], but now [in this current time] even more [to a greater extent] in my absence [when I am away], continue to work out [bring to fulfillment, produce] your salvation [rescue, spiritual deliverance] with fear [reverence, awe] and trembling [deep respect, humility]. word study 13 For [as a reason, explaining why] it is God [the one true deity] who works [is active] in you [directly, within your hearts] to will [to desire] and to act [to be active] on behalf of [for the sake of] His [belonging to Him] good [pleasing, satisfactory] purpose [goodwill, His good pleasure]. word study 14 Do [all things] everything without [murmurings, protests, or complaints] complaining or [disputings, or reasonings] [separately, apart from a grumbling attitude] arguing, word study 15 so that you may be [completely faultless, without rebuke] blameless and [holy, gentle, innocent] pure, children [sons, kids] of God [the one true deity] without fault [blemish, sin] in a [twisted, wicked] crooked and [perverted, dishonest] perverse generation, in which you [appear, live] shine as [luminaries, bright stars] lights in the world word study 16 as you hold forth [offer, proclaim] the word [logos, message] of life [eternal, spiritual existence], in order that I may boast [rejoice, have pride] on the day [appointed time, era] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] that I did not run [hastily, without purpose] or labor [work, toil] in vain [without result, empty]. word study 17 But even if I am being poured out [giving myself completely] like a drink offering [a sacrifice to God] on the sacrifice [an offering to God] and service [ministry, a public act of worship] of your faith [trust and confidence in God], I am glad [rejoice, feel happy] and rejoice [celebrate, feel joyful] with all of you [together, as a community]. word study 18 So you too [in the same manner, for the same cause] should be glad [rejoice, have joy] and rejoice [celebrate, be happy] with me [together with, in fellowship with]. word study 19 Now I hope [trust, have confidence] in the Lord Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] to send Timothy [dear to God, a faithful companion] to you soon [quickly, without delay], that I also may be cheered [encouraged, in good spirits] when I learn [know, understand] how you are doing [your state, circumstances]. word study 20 I have nobody else like him [like-minded, of similar spirit] who will genuinely [sincerely, naturally] care for [be anxious about, worry for] your [spiritual and physical] needs [state, matters, well-being]. word study 21 For [because of this reason] all [every single one] the others [those whom I have considered] look after [seek, pursue] their own [personal, self-centered] interests [desires, needs], not [but rather] those [the things] of Jesus [Joshua, God’s salvation] Christ [the anointed, Messiah]. word study 22 But you know Timothy’s [proven character, tested faithfulness] proven worth, that as a [spiritual] child [a born one] with his father he has served [been a slave, worked diligently] with me to advance [further, spread] the gospel [good news, message of salvation]. word study 23 So I [the speaker himself] hope [to expect with confidence] to send [to dispatch as a messenger] him [this specific person] as soon as [when or at the time that] I see [to consider carefully] what happens [the things concerning me] with me [the speaker himself, in my circumstances]. word study 24 And I trust [have faith, am confident] in the Lord [God, the supreme authority] that I myself [personally, as an individual] will come [go, travel] soon [shortly, quickly, without delay]. word study 25 But I thought it [deemed it necessary, considered it essential] necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother [fellow believer, companion in faith], fellow worker [co-laborer, partner in ministry], and fellow soldier [companion in struggle, teammate in the spiritual battle], who is also your messenger [apostle, delegate] and minister [servant, helper] to my needs [requirements, necessities]. word study 26 For he has been [deeply] longing [with great desire, to long for] for all [every one, everything] of you and is [full of heaviness, greatly] distressed [troubled, in anguish] because [since, for the reason that] you heard [received news, were informed] he was [had become, fell into a state of] ill [sick, weak]. word study 27 He was sick [nigh unto death, very ill] indeed, nearly unto [almost to the point of] death. But God [the supreme Creator, Divine Mercy] had mercy [pity, compassion] on him, and not only on him [alone, by himself] but also on me, to spare [save, deliver] me sorrow [grief, deep sadness] upon [in addition to, on top of] sorrow [heartache, distress]. word study 28 Therefore [then, as a consequence] I am all the more eager [with increased diligence] to send him, so that when you see [perceive, behold] him again [once more, a second time] you may rejoice [be glad, experience joy], and I may be [exist in a state of] less anxious [without sorrow, free from grief]. word study 29 Welcome [receive with open hearts] him in the Lord [the supreme Master] with great [all, abundant] joy [deep and lasting happiness], and honor [hold in high esteem, value highly] men like him [such as this, of similar character], word study 30 because he nearly died [came near to death, was nigh unto death] for the work [ministry, service] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], risking [hazarding, not regarding] his life [soul, breath of life] to make up for your [supply, fulfill] deficit [deficiency, lack] of service [ministry, attendance] to me [toward me, on my behalf]. word study