效法基督
1所以，如果你们在基督里受到鼓励，得到爱的安慰，与圣灵相通，有慈悲和怜悯之心， 2就要同心合意，彼此相爱，灵里合一，思想一致，好让我的喜乐更充足。 3凡事不可自私自利、爱慕虚荣，要心存谦卑，看别人比自己强。 4各人不要只顾自己的事，也要为别人的需要着想。 5你们应当有基督耶稣那样的心肠。
6祂虽然本质上是上帝，
却没有紧紧抓住自己与上帝平等的地位不放，
7反而甘愿放下一切，
取了奴仆的形象，
降生为人的样子。
8祂以人的样子出现后，
就自愿卑微，顺服至死，
而且死在十字架上。
9因此，上帝将祂升为至尊，
赐给祂超乎万名之上的名，
10使一切天上的、
地上的和地底下的，
无不屈膝跪拜在耶稣的名下，
11无不口称耶稣基督是主，
将荣耀归于父上帝。
暗世明灯
12所以，我亲爱的弟兄姊妹，既然我在你们那里的时候，你们一向都很顺服；如今我不在你们那里，你们更要顺服，要战战兢兢地活出得救后应有的生命。 13因为你们立志和行事都是上帝在你们心中工作，为要成就祂美好的旨意。
14无论做什么事，都不要抱怨，也不要与人争论， 15好使你们在这个弯曲败坏的时代中无可指责、诚实无伪，做上帝纯洁无瑕的儿女，如同明光照耀在世上， 16坚守生命之道。这样，到了基督再来的时候，我可以夸口自己没有空跑一场，也没有白费功夫。 17你们的信心就是献给上帝的事奉和祭物，即使在上面浇奠我的生命，我也很喜乐，并且和你们大家一同喜乐。 18同样，你们也要喜乐，要和我一同喜乐。
保罗的得力同工
19如果主耶稣许可，我希望尽快派提摩太去你们那里，我好知道你们的近况，心里得到安慰。 20因为没有人像他那样跟我一同真正关心你们的事。 21别人都只顾自己的事，并不关心耶稣基督的事。 22但你们知道提摩太的为人，我与他情同父子，一起事奉和传扬福音。 23所以，我的案子一旦明朗了，我会立刻派他去见你们。 24我深信如果主许可，我自己很快也会去你们那里。
25另外，我觉得有必要让以巴弗提回到你们那里。他是我的弟兄、同工和战友，也是你们差遣来服侍我、供应我需用的。 26他很想念你们，并且感到不安，因为你们听说了他患病的事。 27他确实病了，几乎丧命，但上帝怜悯了他，不但怜悯他，也怜悯了我，没让我忧上加忧。 28所以，我想尽快派他回去与你们相聚，好让你们喜乐，也可以减少我的挂虑。 29你们要在主里欢欢喜喜地接待他，而且要敬重像他这样的人。 30他为了基督的工作，将生死置之度外，几乎丧命，以弥补你们服侍我的不足之处。
Being Humble Like Christ
1So does belonging to Christ help you in any way? Does his love comfort you at all? Do you share anything in common because of the Holy Spirit? Has Christ ever been gentle and loving toward you? 2If any of these things has happened to you, then agree with one another. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and in the way you think and act. By doing this, you will make my joy complete. 3Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves. 4None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others.
5As you deal with one another, you should think and act as Jesus did.
6In his very nature he was God.
Jesus was equal with God. But Jesus didn’t take advantage of that fact.
7Instead, he made himself nothing.
He did this by taking on the nature of a servant.
He was made just like human beings.
8He appeared as a man.
He was humble and obeyed God completely.
He did this even though it led to his death.
Even worse, he died on a cross!
9So God lifted him up to the highest place.
God gave him the name that is above every name.
10When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone will kneel down to worship him.
Everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will kneel down to worship him.
11Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.
And God the Father will receive the glory.
Live Without Complaining
12My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. 13God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to fulfill his good purpose.
14Do everything without complaining or arguing. 15Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault among sinful and evil people. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. 16You will shine as you hold on tight to the word of life. Then I will be able to boast about you on the day Christ returns. I can be happy that I didn’t run or work for nothing. 17But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. I’m talking about the way you serve because you believe. Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and joyful with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19I hope to send Timothy to you soon if the Lord Jesus allows it. Then I will be encouraged when I receive news about you. 20I have no one else like Timothy. He will truly care about how you are doing. 21All the others are looking out for their own interests. They are not looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ. 22But you know that Timothy has proved himself. He has served with me like a son with his father in spreading the good news. 23So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24And I’m sure I myself will come soon if the Lord allows it.
25But I think it’s necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother in the Lord. He is a worker and a soldier of Christ together with me. He is also your messenger. You sent him to take care of my needs. 26He longs for all of you. He is troubled because you heard he was sick. 27He was very sick. In fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him. He also had mercy on me. God spared me sadness after sadness. 28So I want even more to send him to you. Then when you see him again, you will be glad. And I won’t worry so much. 29So then, welcome him as a brother in the Lord with great joy. Honor people like him. 30He almost died for the work of Christ. He put his life in danger to make up for the help you yourselves couldn’t give me.
