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Philippians 2
New King James Version

### Unity Through Humility

2 Therefore if there is any [a]consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any (A)affection and mercy, 2 (B)fulfill my joy (C)by being like-minded, having the same love, being of (D)one accord, of one mind. 3 (E)Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but (F)in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 (G)Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of (H)others.

### The Humbled and Exalted Christ

5 (I)Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, (J)being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, 7 (K)but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form (L)of a bondservant, and (M)coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and (N)became (O)obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 (P)Therefore God also (Q)has highly exalted Him and (R)given Him the name which is above every name, 10 (S)that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and (T)that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

### Light Bearers

12 Therefore, my beloved, (U)as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, (V)work out your own salvation with (W)fear and trembling; 13 for (X)it is God who works in you both to will and to do (Y)for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things (Z)without [d]complaining and (AA)disputing,[e] 15 that you may become blameless and [f]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as (AB)lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that (AC)I may rejoice in the day of Christ that (AD)I have not run in vain or labored in (AE)vain.

17 Yes, and if (AF)I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice (AG)and service of your faith, (AH)I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

### Timothy Commended

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send (AI)Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your [g]state. 20 For I have no one (AJ)like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, (AK)that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

### Epaphroditus Praised

25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you (AL)Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and (AM)fellow soldier, (AN)but your messenger and (AO)the one who ministered to my need; 26 (AP)since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, [h]not regarding his life, (AQ)to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

#### Footnotes

1. Philippians 2:1 Or encouragement
2. Philippians 2:6 Or something to be held onto to be equal
3. Philippians 2:7 emptied Himself of His privileges
4. Philippians 2:14 grumbling
5. Philippians 2:14 arguing
6. Philippians 2:15 innocent
7. Philippians 2:19 condition
8. Philippians 2:30 risking

#### Cross references

1. Philippians 2:1 : Col. 3:12
2. Philippians 2:2 : John 3:29
3. Philippians 2:2 : Rom. 12:16
4. Philippians 2:2 : Phil. 4:2
5. Philippians 2:3 : Gal. 5:26; James 3:14
6. Philippians 2:3 : Rom. 12:10; Eph. 5:21
7. Philippians 2:4 : 1 Cor. 13:5
8. Philippians 2:4 : Rom. 15:1, 2
9. Philippians 2:5 : [Matt. 11:29]; Rom. 15:3
10. Philippians 2:6 : 2 Cor. 4:4
11. Philippians 2:7 : Ps. 22:6
12. Philippians 2:7 : Is. 42:1
13. Philippians 2:7 : [John 1:14]; Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4; [Heb. 2:17]
14. Philippians 2:8 : Ps. 40:6–8; Matt. 26:39; John 10:18; [Rom. 5:19]
15. Philippians 2:8 : Heb. 5:8
16. Philippians 2:9 : [Matt. 28:18]; Heb. 2:9
17. Philippians 2:9 : Ps. 68:18; 110:1; Is. 52:13; Acts 2:33
18. Philippians 2:9 : Is. 9:6; Luke 1:32; Eph. 1:21
19. Philippians 2:10 : Is. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Rev. 5:13
20. Philippians 2:11 : John 13:13; [Rom. 10:9; 14:9]
21. Philippians 2:12 : Phil. 1:5, 6; 4:15
22. Philippians 2:12 : John 6:27, 29; 2 Pet. 1:10
23. Philippians 2:12 : Eph. 6:5
24. Philippians 2:13 : Rom. 12:3; 1 Cor. 12:6; 15:10; 2 Cor. 3:5; Heb. 13:20, 21
25. Philippians 2:13 : Eph. 1:5
26. Philippians 2:14 : 1 Cor. 10:10; 1 Pet. 4:9
27. Philippians 2:14 : Rom. 14:1
28. Philippians 2:15 : Matt. 5:15, 16
29. Philippians 2:16 : 2 Cor. 1:14
30. Philippians 2:16 : Gal. 2:2
31. Philippians 2:16 : Is. 49:4; Gal. 4:11; 1 Thess. 3:5
32. Philippians 2:17 : 2 Cor. 12:15; 2 Tim. 4:6
33. Philippians 2:17 : Num. 28:6, 7; Rom. 15:16
34. Philippians 2:17 : 2 Cor. 7:4
35. Philippians 2:19 : Rom. 16:21
36. Philippians 2:20 : 1 Cor. 16:10; 2 Tim. 3:10
37. Philippians 2:22 : 1 Cor. 4:17
38. Philippians 2:25 : Phil. 4:18
39. Philippians 2:25 : Philem. 2
40. Philippians 2:25 : John 13:16; 2 Cor. 8:23
41. Philippians 2:25 : 2 Cor. 11:9
42. Philippians 2:26 : Phil. 1:8
43. Philippians 2:30 : 1 Cor. 16:17; Phil. 4:10

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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