Study Desk

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,^(a) if any fellowship with the Spirit,^(b) if any affection and mercy,^(c)

fulfill my joy by thinking the same way,^(d) having the same love,^(e) sharing the same feelings, focusing on one^(f) goal.

Do nothing out of rivalry^(g) or conceit,^(h) but in humility⁽ⁱ⁾ consider others as more important^(j) than yourselves.

Everyone should look out not only for his own interests,^(k) but also for the interests of others.^(l)

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God^(m) as something to be used for His own advantage.^[a]

Instead He emptied Himself⁽ⁿ⁾ by assuming the form of a slave,^(o) taking on the likeness of men.^(p) And when He had come as a man in His external form,

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.^(q)

For this reason God highly exalted Him^(r) and gave Him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow^(s)— of those who are in heaven^(t) and on earth and under the earth^(u)—

and every tongue^(v) should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,^[b] to the glory^(w) of God the Father.