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, in-order-that you° may be mindful of the same thing, have the same love*, be one in spirit*, being mindful of the one thing,
2:3 nothing according-to selfish-ambition or empty conceit, but in humility: deeming one another superior to yourselves,
2:4 each one, do° not note the things of yourselves, but each one note also the things of others.
2:5 For* let this mindset be in you°, which was also in Christ Jesus,
2:6 who, existing in the form of God, did not deem it a seizure to be equal to God,
2:7 but emptied himself, and took the form of a bondservant, after he became in the likeness of men;
2:8 and was found in the shape as a man, he humbled himself, when he became obedient* insofar-as death, and even death of a cross.
2:9 Hence, God also highly exalted him, and granted to him a name, the one above every name;
2:10 in-order-that every knee should bow in the name of Jesus, those from the heavenly and earthly and subterranean places,
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 arguments,
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° appear as illuminations in the world.
2:16 Keep holding forth the word of life, *for a boasting to me in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain nor labored 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 you° all.
2:18 Now you° also, rejoice° and rejoice° together-with me in the same thing.
2:19 Now I am hoping in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you° shortly, in-order-that I may also be in good-spirits after I knew 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* together-with me *for the good-news.
2:23 Therefore, I am indeed hoping to send this one promptly, as I would look away from the things around me {i.e., figuring out what to do next} ,
2:24 but I have confidence in the Lord that I myself will also be coming 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 was longing-for you° all, and was deeply-depressed because you° had heard that he was sick.
2:27 For* he also was sick, close to death. But God showed-mercy on him, now not him only, but also me, in-order-that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
2:28 Therefore, I sent him more diligently, in-order-that after you° saw him again, you° should rejoice and I may be sorrow-free.
2:29 Therefore, accept° him in the Lord with all joy, and hold° the ones who are such as admired,
2:30 because he drew near almost insofar-as death, because of the work of the Christ, he disregarded the life, in-order-that he might fill the lack in your° ministry* toward me.