

\s5
\c 2
\p
\v 1 If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,
\v 2 make my joy full so that you are of the same mind, have the same love, are united in spirit, and have the same purpose.

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\v 3 Do nothing out of selfishness or empty conceit, but instead with humility count others better than yourself.
\v 4 Do not look out only for your own needs, but also look out for the needs of others.

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\v 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,
\q 
\v 6 who existed in the form of God.
\q2 But he did not consider his equality with God 
\q3 as something to hold on to.
\q 
\v 7 But instead he emptied himself. 
\q2 He took the form of a servant. 
\q2 He appeared in the likeness of men. 
\q  He was found in appearance as a man.
\q2 
\v 8 He humbled himself and obeyed to the point of death, 
\q2   even the death of the cross.

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\q 
\v 9 Therefore also God highly exalted him, 
\q2 and gave him the name above every name.
\q 
\v 10 So at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
\q2 of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
\q 
\v 11 And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 
\q2 to the glory of God the Father.

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\p
\v 12 So then, my beloved, even as you always obey, not only in my presence but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
\v 13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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\v 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing,
\v 15 so that you may become blameless and honest children of God without blemish, and shine as lights in the world in the middle of a crooked and depraved generation. 
\v 16 Hold tightly to the word of life so that I may have reason to glory in the day of Christ, because then I will know that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

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\v 17 But even if my life is poured out as an offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice with great joy with you all.
\v 18 And in the same manner you also must rejoice with great joy with me.

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\p
\v 19 But I expect in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that his report may also encourage me when I know how you are doing.
\v 20 I have no one like Timothy who will truly care for you.
\v 21 For they all seek their own interests, not the things of Jesus Christ.

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\v 22 But you know Timothy has proven himself, because as a child serves his father, so he served with me in the spread of the gospel.
\v 23 Therefore I expect to send him as soon as I see how things will go with me.
\v 24 But I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.

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\v 25 I think it necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need.
\v 26 Because you heard he was sick, he was deeply distressed and longed to be with you all. 
\v 27 For indeed he was so sick he almost died, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but also on me that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

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\v 28 Therefore I am eager to send him so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I will not worry so much.
\v 29 Welcome Epaphroditus in the Lord with all joy, and honor him as people like him deserve,
\v 30 because he almost died doing the work of Christ, as he risked his life to serve me and supply my needs in place of you who could not do it.


