Being One in Christ

1If then [there be] any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of [the] Spirit, if any bowels and compassions, 2fulfil my joy, that ye may think the same thing, having the same love, joined in soul, thinking one thing; 3[let] nothing [be] in the spirit of strife or vain glory, but, in lowliness of mind, each esteeming the other as more excellent than themselves; 4regarding not each his own [qualities], but each those of others also.

The Attitude of Christ

(Isaiah 52:13-15)

5For let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus; 6who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; 7but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men; 8and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and [that the] death of [the] cross. 9Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and granted him a name, that which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly and earthly and infernal [beings], 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord to God [the] Father's glory.

Shining as Stars

(Matthew 5:13-16)

12So that, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you both the willing and the working according to [his] good pleasure.

14Do all things without murmurings and reasonings, 15that ye may be harmless and simple, irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation; among whom ye appear as lights in [the] world, 16holding forth [the] word of life, so as to be a boast for me in Christ's day, that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain. 17But if also I am poured out as a libation on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice in common with you all. 18In like manner do ye also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19But I hope in [the] Lord Jesus to send Timotheus to you shortly, that I also may be refreshed, knowing how ye get on. 20For I have no one like-minded who will care with genuine feeling how ye get on. 21For all seek their own things, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child a father, he has served with me in the work of the glad tidings. 23Him therefore I hope to send immediately, as soon as I shall see how it goes with me: 24but I trust in [the] Lord that I myself also shall soon come;

Epaphroditus Commended

25but I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-workman and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need, 26since he had a longing desire after you all, and was distressed because ye had heard that he was sick; 27for he was also sick close to death, but God had mercy on him, and not indeed on him alone, but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that seeing him ye might again rejoice, and that I might be the less sorrowful. 29Receive him therefore in [the] Lord with all joy, and hold such in honour; 30because for the sake of the work he drew near even to death, venturing his life that he might fill up what lacked in your ministration toward me.