1
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Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, |
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2
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then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. |
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3
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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. |
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4
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Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. |
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5
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Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: |
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6
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Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, |
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7
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but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. |
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8
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And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. |
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9
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Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, |
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10
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that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, |
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11
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and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
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12
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Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. |
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13
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For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose. |
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14
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Do everything without complaining or arguing, |
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15
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so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world |
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16
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as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. |
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17
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But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. |
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18
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So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. |
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19
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Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. |
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20
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I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs. |
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21
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For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
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22
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But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel. |
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23
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So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me. |
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24
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And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon. |
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25
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But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs. |
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26
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For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. |
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27
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He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. |
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28
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Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. |
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29
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Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, |
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30
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because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me. |
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