5 because of dyour partnership in the gospel efrom the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that fhe who began a good work in you gwill bring it to completion at the hday of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you iin my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,1 both in my jimprisonment and in the kdefense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For lGod is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that myour love may abound more and more, with nknowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may oapprove what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the pfruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, qto the glory and praise of God.
Christ’s Example of Humility
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any sparticipation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 tcomplete my joy by ubeing of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from vselfish ambition or wconceit, xbut in yhumility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 zLet each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 aHave this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,1 6 bwho, cthough dhe was in the form of God, edid not count fequality with God a thing to be grasped,2 7 but gemptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,3 hbeing born iin the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he jhumbled himself by becoming kobedient to the point of death, leven death on a cross. 9 mTherefore God has highly nexalted him and bestowed on him the name that is oabove every name, 10 so that at the pname of Jesus qevery knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue rconfess that sJesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
7 But whatever fgain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
15 Let those of us who are vmature think this way, and if in anything wyou think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
7 And the vpeace of God, which wsurpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 xWhat you have learned1 and yreceived and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
