Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation

21 If then [there be] any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of [the] Spirit, if any bowels and compassions, 2 fulfil my joy, that ye may think the same thing, having the same love, joined in soul, thinking one thing; 3 [let] nothing [be] in the spirit of strife or vain glory, but, in lowliness of mind, each esteeming the other as more excellent than themselves; 4 regarding not each his own [qualities], but each those of others also. 5 For let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus; 6 who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; 7 but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men; 8 and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and [that the] death of [the] cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and granted him a name, that which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly and earthly and infernal [beings], 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord to God [the] Father's glory.

Shining as Lights in the World

12 So that, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you both the willing and the working according to [his] good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and reasonings, 15 that ye may be harmless and simple, irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation; among whom ye appear as lights in [the] world, 16 holding forth [the] word of life, so as to be a boast for me in Christ's day, that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain. 17 But if also I am poured out as a libation on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice in common with you all. 18 In like manner do ye also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 But I hope in [the] Lord Jesus to send Timotheus to you shortly, that I also may be refreshed, knowing how ye get on. 20 For I have no one like-minded who will care with genuine feeling how ye get on. 21 For all seek their own things, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child a father, he has served with me in the work of the glad tidings. 23 Him therefore I hope to send immediately, as soon as I shall see how it goes with me: 24 but I trust in [the] Lord that I myself also shall soon come; 25 but I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-workman and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need, 26 since he had a longing desire after you all, and was distressed because ye had heard that he was sick; 27 for he was also sick close to death, but God had mercy on him, and not indeed on him alone, but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that seeing him ye might again rejoice, and that I might be the less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in [the] Lord with all joy, and hold such in honour; 30 because for the sake of the work he drew near even to death, venturing his life that he might fill up what lacked in your ministration toward me.

Pressing toward the Mark

31 For the rest, my brethren, rejoice in [the] Lord: to write the same things to you, to me [is] not irksome, and for you safe. 2 See to dogs, see to evil workmen, see to the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by [the] Spirit of God, and boast in Christ Jesus, and do not trust in flesh.

4 Though I have [my] trust even in flesh; if any other think to trust in flesh, I rather: 5 as to circumcision, [I received it] the eighth day; of [the] race of Israel, of [the] tribe of Benjamin, Hebrew of Hebrews; as to [the] law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, persecuting the assembly; as to righteousness which [is] in [the] law, found blameless; 7 but what things were gain to me these I counted, on account of Christ, loss. 8 But surely I count also all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all, and count them to be filth, that I may gain Christ;

9 and that I may be found in him, not having my righteousness, which [would be] on the principle of law, but that which is by faith of Christ, the righteousness which [is] of God through faith, 10 to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 if any way I arrive at the resurrection from among [the] dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained [the prize], or am already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may get possession [of it], seeing that also I have been taken possession of by Christ [Jesus]. 13 Brethren, I do not count to have got possession myself; but one thing—forgetting the things behind, and stretching out to the things before, 14 I pursue, [looking] towards [the] goal, for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus.

15 As many therefore as [are] perfect, let us be thus minded; and if ye are any otherwise minded, this also God shall reveal to you. 16 But whereto we have attained, [let us] walk in the same steps.

17 Be imitators [all] together of me, brethren, and fix your eyes on those walking thus as you have us for a model; 18 (for many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they [are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end [is] destruction, whose god [is] the belly, and [their] glory in their shame, who mind earthly things:) 20 for our commonwealth has its existence in [the] heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ [as] Saviour, 21 who shall transform our body of humiliation into conformity to his body of glory, according to the working of [the] power which he has even to subdue all things to himself.