Obedient in Christ

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my dear friends,^(A) just as you have always obeyed,^(B) so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. ¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling^(C) and arguing,^{(D) 15} so that you may be blameless^(E) and pure,^(F) children of God who are faultless^(G) in a crooked^(H) and perverted^(I) generation,^(J) among whom you shine like stars in the world, ¹⁶ by holding firm to the word^(K) of life. Then I can boast^(L) in the day of Christ^(M) that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. ¹⁷ But even if I am poured out^(N) as a drink offering^(O) on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ Now I hope in the Lord Jesus^(P) to send Timothy^(Q) to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. ²⁰ For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; ²¹ all seek their own interests,^(R) not those of Jesus Christ.^{(S) 22} But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. ²³ Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.^(T)

²⁵ But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus^(U)—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need^(V)— ²⁶ since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. ²⁷ Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. ²⁹ Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, ³⁰ because he came close to death for the work^(W) of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.