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 ,
(then) {make} my - joy complete - vvv vvv by being like-minded , having the same love , being united in spirit (and) vvv vvv purpose.
(Do) nothing out of selfish ambition or - empty pride , but - in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Each (of you) should look not only {to} your own interests , but - also to the interests of others.
Let this mind be ... in you which (was) also in Christ Jesus :
Who , existing in (the) form of God , {did} not consider - vvv equality with God something to be grasped ,
but emptied Himself , taking (the) form of a servant , being made in human likeness ....
And being found in appearance as a man , He humbled Himself (and) became obedient to death — even death on (a) cross.
Therefore - - God exalted Him {to the highest place} and gave Him the name above all - names ,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow , in heaven and on earth and under the earth ,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ (is) Lord , to (the) glory of God (the) Father.
Therefore , my beloved , just as vvv 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.
For it is God who works in you - - to will and - to act on behalf of (His) good purpose.
Do everything without complaining (or) arguing ,
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
as you hold forth (the) word of life , in order that I may boast on (the) day of Christ that vvv I did not run - - (or) labor in vain.
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.
- - So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
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}.
- I have nobody else like him who {will} genuinely care for your needs ....
For all the (others) look after their own interests , not those of Jesus Christ.
But you know (Timothy -’s) - proven worth , that as a child (with his) father he has served with me to (advance) the gospel.
So ... I hope to send him as soon as ... ... I see what happens with me.
And I trust in (the) Lord that I myself ... will come soon.
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.
For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard - he was ill.
vvv He was sick indeed , nearly unto death. But - God had mercy on him , and not only on him but also on me , to vvv spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
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.
- Welcome him in (the) Lord with great joy , and vvv honor - men (like him) ,
because he nearly - died for the work of Christ , risking (his) life - to make up for your - deficit of service to me.