2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2:1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy,

2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
2:2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.
2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.

2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
2:4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,

2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,

2:8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
2:8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross.

2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
2:9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,

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

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

2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
2:12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

2:13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

2:14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning,
2:14 Do all things without murmuring and arguing,

2:15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
2:15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.

2:16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
2:16 It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

2:17 Even if I am to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
2:17 But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you--

2:18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
2:18 and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.

2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you.
2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you.

2:20 I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare.
2:20 I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

2:21 They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
2:21 All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

2:22 But Timothy's worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
2:22 But Timothy's worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

2:23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me;
2:23 I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me;

2:24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come also.
2:24 and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.

2:25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphrodi'tus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,
2:25 Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus--my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier, your messenger and minister to my need;

2:26 for he has been longing for you all, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
2:26 for he has been longing for all of you, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.

2:27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
2:27 He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

2:28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
2:28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.

2:29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men,
2:29 Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people,

2:30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me.
2:30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.