Do nothing from (A)selfish ambition or (B)conceit, but in (C)humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you (D)look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (E)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] (F)who, though he was in (G)the form of God, did not count equality with God (H)a thing to be grasped,[b] but (I)emptied himself, by taking the form of a (J)servant,[c] (K)being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by (L)becoming obedient to the point of death, (M)even death on a cross.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:5 Or which was also in Christ Jesus
  2. Philippians 2:6 Or a thing to be held on to for advantage
  3. Philippians 2:7 Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(A) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(B) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(C)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(D)

Who, being in very nature[a] God,(E)
    did not consider equality with God(F) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(G)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(H)
    being made in human likeness.(I)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(J)
        even death on a cross!(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.

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