MODERN LITERAL VERSION

2:1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love*, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affections and mercies,
2:2 fulfill my joy, which is that* you* may be mindful of the same thing, having the same love*, fellowship in spirit*, being mindful of the one thing
2:3 (nothing according to selfish ambition or through empty conceit but in humility): deeming one another superior to yourselves;
2:4 each of you*, do not note the things of yourselves, but also each of you*, note the things of others.
2:5 For* let this mind-set be in you*, which was also in Christ Jesus:
2:6 who, existing in the form of God, did not deem the being equal with God a seizure,
2:7 but emptied himself, having taken the form of a bondservant, having become in the likeness of men;
2:8 and having been found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient as far as death, even the death of the cross.
2:9 Hence God also highly exalted him and granted to him the name which is over every name;
2:10 that* every knee should bow in the name of Jesus, all in heavenly places and in earthly and in the subterranean,
2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2:12 So-then my beloved, just-as you* have always obeyed*, not only as in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your* own salvation with fear and trembling.
2:13 For* it is God who is working in you* both to will and to work, on behalf of his delight.
2:14 Do all things without murmurings and questionings,
2:15 in order that you* might become blameless and harmless children of God, flawless in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you* are seen as illuminations in the world.
2:16 Keep holding onto the word of life, *for a boast to me in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.
2:17 But even if I am a drink-offering upon the sacrifice and ministry* of your* faith, I am rejoicing and even rejoicing together with all of you*.
2:18 Now you* also, rejoice in the same thing and rejoice together with me.

2:19 Now I am hoping, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you* shortly, that* I may also be in good* spirits*, when I know about the things concerning you*.
2:20 For* I have no one equal in spirit*, who will be genuinely anxious about the things concerning you*.
2:21 For* they are all seeking their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
2:22 But you* know the trial of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served* with me *for the good-news.
2:23 Therefore I am indeed hoping to send him promptly, as I may look away from things concerning me,
2:24 but I have confidence in the Lord that I myself will also come shortly.

2:25 But I deemed it necessary to send to you* Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier and your* ambassador* and minister* to my need;
2:26 since he longed after you* all and was disheartened, because you* had heard that he was sick.
2:27 For* indeed he was sick– close to death. But God showed-mercy on him, now not him only, but also me, that* I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
2:28 Therefore I have sent him more diligently, that*, when you* see him again, you* may rejoice and that* I may be sorrow-free.
2:29 Therefore accept him in the Lord with all joy, and hold those who are such as admired;
2:30 because he drew near almost as far as death, because of the work of the Christ, disregarding his life in order that* he might fill the lack in your* ministry* toward me.