1: If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if
any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and
mercies, |
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2: Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind. |
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3:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. |
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4: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on
the things of others. |
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5: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
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6: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God: |
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7: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form
of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: |
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8: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. |
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9: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a
name which is above every name: |
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10: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; |
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11: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
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12: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling. |
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13: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of
his good pleasure. |
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14: Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
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15: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among
whom ye shine as lights in the world; |
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16: Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day
of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. |
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17: Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of
your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. |
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18: For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
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19: But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto
you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. |
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20: For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for
your state. |
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21: For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus
Christ's. |
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22: But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father,
he hath served with me in the gospel. |
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23: Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall
see how it will go with me. |
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24: But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come
shortly. |
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25: Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my
brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger,
and he that ministered to my wants. |
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26: For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness,
because that ye had heard that he had been sick. |
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27: For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on
him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon
sorrow. |
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28: I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see
him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. |
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29: Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold
such in reputation: |
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30: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not
regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. |