Philippians · Bible in Basic English
Philippians 2 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 If then there is any comfort in Christ, any help given by love, any uniting of hearts in the Spirit, any loving mercies and pity,
1 If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,
1 Εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία Πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί,
2 Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in harmony and of one mind;
2 make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
2 πληρώσατέ μου τὴν χαράν, ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ φρονῆτε, τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγάπην ἔχοντες, σύμψυχοι, τὸ ἓν φρονοῦντες,
3 Doing nothing through envy or through pride, but with low thoughts of self let everyone take others to be better than himself;
3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
3 μηδὲν κατὰ ἐριθείαν ἢ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν.
4 Not looking everyone to his private good, but keeping in mind the things of others.
4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
4 μὴ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστος σκοπεῖτε, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἑτέρων ἕκαστος.
5 Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus,
5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,
5 Τοῦτο γὰρ φρονείσθω ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ,
6 To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God;
6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
6 ὃς ἐν μορφῇ Θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα Θεῷ,
7 But he made himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made like men;
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
7 ἀλλ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος,
8 And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.
8 καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ.
9 For this reason God has put him in the highest place and has given to him the name which is greater than every name;
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name,
9 Διὸ καὶ ὁ Θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσε καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα,
10 So that at the name of Jesus every knee may be bent, of those in heaven and those on earth and those in the underworld,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
10 ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων,
11 And that every tongue may give witness that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
11 καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ πατρός.
12 So then, my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you, give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts;
12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
12 Ὥστε, ἀγαπητοί μου, καθὼς πάντοτε ὑπηκούσατε, μὴ ὡς ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ μου μόνον, ἀλλὰ νῦν πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τῇ ἀπουσίᾳ μου, μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε·
13 For it is God who is the cause of your desires and of your acts, for his good pleasure.
13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
13 ὁ Θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας.
14 Do all things without protests and arguments;
14 Do all things without complaining and arguing,
14 πάντα ποιεῖτε χωρὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν,
15 So that you may be holy and gentle, children of God without sin in a twisted and foolish generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,
15 ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα Θεοῦ ἀμώμητα ἐν μέσῳ γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης, ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ,
16 Offering the word of life; so that I may have glory in you in the day of Christ, because my running was not for nothing and my work was not without effect.
16 holding up the word of life, that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.
16 λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες, εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα.
17 And even if I am offered like a drink offering, giving myself for the cause and work of your faith, I am glad and have joy with you all:
17 Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
17 Ἀλλ᾽ εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίρω καὶ συγχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν·
18 And in the same way do you be glad and have a part in my joy.
18 In the same way, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
18 τὸ δ᾽ αὐτὸ καὶ ὑμεῖς χαίρετε καὶ συγχαίρετέ μοι.
19 But I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may be comforted when I have news of you.
19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.
19 Ἐλπίζω δὲ ἐν Κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Τιμόθεον ταχέως πέμψαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα κἀγὼ εὐψυχῶ γνοὺς τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν·
20 For I have no man of like mind who will truly have care for you.
20 For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.
20 οὐδένα γὰρ ἔχω ἰσόψυχον, ὅστις γνησίως τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν μεριμνήσει·
21 For they all go after what is theirs, not after the things of Christ.
21 For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
21 οἱ πάντες γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ζητοῦσιν, οὐ τὰ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ.
22 But his quality is clear to you; how, as a child is to its father, so he was a help to me in the work of the good news.
22 But you know that he has proved himself. As a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.
22 τὴν δὲ δοκιμὴν αὐτοῦ γινώσκετε, ὅτι ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον.
23 Him then I am hoping to send as quickly as possible, when I am able to see how things will go for me:
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.
23 τοῦτον μὲν οὖν ἐλπίζω πέμψαι ὡς ἂν ἀπίδω τὰ περὶ ἐμὲ ἐξαυτῆς·
24 But I have faith in the Lord that I myself will come before long.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.
24 πέποιθα δὲ ἐν Κυρίῳ ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς ταχέως ἐλεύσομαι.
25 But it seemed to me necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, who has taken part with me in the work and in the fight, and your servant, sent by you for help in my need;
25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,
25 Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ συστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς,
26 Because his heart was with you all, and he was greatly troubled because you had news that he was ill:
26 since he longed for you all, and was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick.
26 ἐπειδὴ ἐπιποθῶν ἦν πάντας ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἀδημονῶν διότι ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἠσθένησε.
27 For in fact he was ill almost to death: but God had mercy on him; and not only on him but on me, so that I might not have grief on grief.
27 For indeed he was sick nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.
27 καὶ γὰρ ἠσθένησε παραπλήσιον θανάτου· ἀλλ᾽ ὁ Θεὸς αὐτὸν ἠλέησεν, οὐκ αὐτὸν δὲ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐμέ, ἵνα μὴ λύπην ἐπὶ λύπην σχῶ.
28 I have sent him, then, the more gladly, so that when you see him again, you may be happy and I may have the less sorrow.
28 I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
28 σπουδαιοτέρως οὖν ἔπεμψα αὐτόν, ἵνα ἰδόντες αὐτὸν πάλιν χαρῆτε, κἀγὼ ἀλυπότερος ὦ.
29 So take him to your hearts in the Lord with all joy, and give honour to such as he is:
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor,
29 προσδέχεσθε οὖν αὐτὸν ἐν Κυρίῳ μετὰ πάσης χαρᾶς, καὶ τοὺς τοιούτους ἐντίμους ἔχετε,
30 Because for the work of Christ he was near to death, putting his life in danger to make your care for me complete.
30 because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
30 ὅτι διὰ τὸ ἔργον τοῦ Χριστοῦ μέχρι θανάτου ἤγγισε, παραβουλευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ ἵνα ἀναπληρώσῃ τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα τῆς πρός με λειτουργίας.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Epaphroditus
Paul's brother, coworker, and fellow soldier whom the Philippians sent with a gift; he nearly died of illness.
Cited in the guide: Philippians 2:25; Philippians 4:18
Timothy
A disciple from Lystra with a Greek father and a believing Jewish mother, whom Paul circumcised and took with him as a coworker; he received two letters from Paul.
Cited in the guide: Acts 16:1; 1 Corinthians 4:17; Philippians 2:19
Cross references (30)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Colossians 3:12; 1 John 4:12; 1 John 4:7–8; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Psalm 133:1
- 2 Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8–9; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 3 John 4
- 3 Romans 12:10; Galatians 5:26; Ephesians 5:21; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Peter 5:5
- 4 1 Corinthians 10:24; Romans 15:1; James 2:8; 1 Corinthians 13:4–5; 1 Corinthians 10:32–33
- 5 1 John 2:6; Matthew 11:29; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Peter 4:1; 1 Corinthians 10:33–11:1
- 6 John 5:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 1:3; John 17:5; Colossians 1:15–16
- 7 2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 20:28; John 1:14; Romans 8:3; Isaiah 53:2–3
- 8 John 10:18; Hebrews 12:2; Romans 5:19; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18
- 9 Revelation 19:16; Matthew 28:18; 1 Peter 3:22; Isaiah 52:13; Hebrews 2:9
- 10 Isaiah 45:23–25; Matthew 28:18; Revelation 5:13–14; Hebrews 1:6; Romans 14:10–11
- 11 1 John 4:15; Romans 14:11; John 13:13; Romans 14:9; 1 John 4:2
- 12 2 Peter 1:5–10; Luke 13:23–24; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Hebrews 4:11; 1 Peter 2:11
- 13 Hebrews 13:21; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 9:16; 1 Corinthians 15:10
- 14 1 Peter 4:9; 1 Corinthians 10:10; James 5:9; Ephesians 4:31–32; Philippians 2:3
- 15 Matthew 5:14–16; 1 Peter 2:12; Matthew 5:45; Isaiah 60:1; 1 John 3:1–3
- 16 1 Corinthians 9:26; Galatians 2:2; 1 John 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; John 6:68
- 17 2 Timothy 4:6; Hebrews 13:15–16; Romans 15:16; 2 Corinthians 12:15; Romans 12:1
- 18 James 1:2–4; Philippians 4:4; Philippians 3:1; Ephesians 3:13
- 19 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:6–8; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philippians 1:1; Philemon 5–7
- 20 Philippians 2:2; Philippians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 16:10; 1 Samuel 18:3; John 12:6
- 21 1 Corinthians 10:24; 1 Corinthians 10:33; Philippians 2:4; Matthew 16:24; 1 Corinthians 13:5
- 22 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Timothy 1:2; 2 Corinthians 8:22
- 23 Philippians 2:19; 1 Samuel 22:3
- 24 3 John 14; Philemon 22; Philippians 1:25–26; Romans 15:28–29; Philippians 2:19
- 25 Philippians 4:18; Philemon 1–2; Philippians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Colossians 1:7
- 26 Philippians 1:8; Isaiah 61:3; Romans 12:15; Proverbs 12:25; Ephesians 3:13
- 27 Psalm 34:19; Philippians 2:30; Acts 9:37; 2 Corinthians 2:7; 1 Corinthians 10:13
- 28 John 16:22; 2 Timothy 1:4; Philippians 2:26–27; Acts 20:38; 2 Corinthians 2:3
- 29 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Corinthians 16:18; 1 Timothy 5:17; Romans 16:2; Matthew 10:40–41
- 30 1 Corinthians 16:17; Philippians 4:10; Acts 20:24; Philippians 4:18; Philippians 2:17
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
There is nothing better, there is nothing more affectionate, than a spiritual teacher; such an one surpasses the kindness of any natural father. Do but consider, how this blessed one entreats the Philippians concerning the things which were to their own advantage. What says he, in exhorting them concerning concord, that cause of all good things?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
… in order that to Christ Jesus, our Lord, and God, and Saviour, and King, according to the will of the invisible Father, "every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess" to Him, and that He should execute just judgment towards all; that He may send …
… name above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father;" those books have not.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
how was He of David's seed? how did he "take the form of a servant?" how "was the Word made flesh?" and how saith Paul to the Romans, "Of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is God over all?" Therefore that He was of us, and of our substance, and of the Virgin's womb, is manifest from these …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… heaven and on earth is named: glorifying Him with the Only-begotten: for he that denieth the Father, denieth the Son also: and again, He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also; knowing that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)