Bible / Philippians
Philippians 2
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
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, CCC
2 make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. CCC
5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, CCC
6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, CCC
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. CCC
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. CCC · Fathers
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, CCC
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, CCC
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. CCC
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. CCC
13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. CCC
14 Do all things without complaining and arguing, CCC
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, CCC · Fathers
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. CCC
17 Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. CCC
18 In the same way, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
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.
20 For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.
21 For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
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.
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.
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, CCC
26 since he longed for you all, and was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick.
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.
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.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor,
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. CCC
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration: CCC
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that you be of one mind, having the same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment.
3 Let nothing be done through contention: neither by vain glory. But in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:
4 Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men’s. CCC
5 For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: CCC
6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: CCC
7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. CCC
8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. CCC · Fathers
9 For which cause, God also hath exalted him and hath given him a name which is above all names: CCC
10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: CCC
11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. CCC
12 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but much more now in my absence) with fear and trembling work out your salvation. CCC
13 For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will. CCC
14 And do ye all things without murmurings and hesitations: CCC
15 That you may be blameless and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation: among whom you shine as lights in the world. CCC · Fathers
16 Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ: because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain. CCC
17 Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and congratulate with you all. CCC
18 And for the selfsame thing, do you also rejoice and congratulate with me.
19 And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy unto you shortly, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know the things concerning you.
20 For I have no man so of the same mind, who with sincere affection is solicitous for you.
21 For all seek the things that are their own not the things that are Jesus Christ’s.
22 Now know ye the proof of him: that as a son with the father, so hath he served with me in the gospel.
23 Him therefore I hope to send unto you immediately: so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
24 And I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come to you shortly.
25 But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow labourer and fellow soldier, but your apostle: and he that hath ministered to my wants. CCC
26 For indeed he longed after you all: and was sad, for that you had heard that he was sick.
27 For indeed he was sick, nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him. And not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 Therefore, I sent him the more speedily: that seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow.
29 Receive him therefore with all joy in the Lord: and treat with honour such as he is.
30 Because for the work of Christ he came to the point of death: delivering his life, that he might fulfil that which on your part was wanting towards my service. CCC
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2842 “This "as" is not unique in Jesus' teaching: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect"; "Be merciful, even…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2635 “Since Abraham, intercession - asking on behalf of another has been characteristic of a heart attuned to God's mercy. In the age…”
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- CCC 520 “In all of his life Jesus presents himself as our model. He is "the perfect man", who invites us to become his…”
- CCC 1694 “Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, Christians are "dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" and so participate in the…”
- CCC 2842 “This "as" is not unique in Jesus' teaching: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect"; "Be merciful, even…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 449 “By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power,…”
- CCC 1850 “Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight."…”
- CCC 2641 “[Address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." Like…”
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- CCC 472 “This human soul that the Son of God assumed is endowed with a true human knowledge. As such, this knowledge could not…”
- CCC 602 “Consequently, St. Peter can formulate the apostolic faith in the divine plan of salvation in this way: "You were ransomed from the…”
- CCC 705 “Disfigured by sin and death, man remains "in the image of God," in the image of the Son, but is deprived "of…”
- CCC 713 “The Messiah's characteristics are revealed above all in the "Servant songs." These songs proclaim the meaning of Jesus' Passion and show how…”
- CCC 876 “Intrinsically linked to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry is its character as service. Entirely dependent on Christ who gives mission and…”
- CCC 1224 “Our Lord voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus' gesture…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 411 “The Christian tradition sees in this passage an announcement of the "New Adam" who, because he "became obedient unto death, even death…”
- CCC 612 “The cup of the New Covenant, which Jesus anticipated when he offered himself at the Last Supper, is afterwards accepted by him…”
- CCC 908 “By his obedience unto death, Christ communicated to his disciples the gift of royal freedom, so that they might "by the self-abnegation…”
- CCC 1850 “Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight."…”
- CCC 2641 “[Address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." Like…”
“… to him by revelation, that He who suffered under Pontius Pilate, the same is Lord of all, and King, and God, and Judge, receiving power from Him who is the God of all, because He became "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… that there is one God, who is "above all principality, and dominion, and power, and every name which is named;" and that His Word, invisible by nature, was made palpable and visible among men, and did descend "to death, even the death of the cross;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXIV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“For doing away with [the effects of] that disobedience of man which had taken place at the beginning by the occasion of a tree, "He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 434 “Jesus' Resurrection glorifies the name of the Saviour God, for from that time on it is the name of Jesus that fully…”
- CCC 449 “By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power,…”
- CCC 908 “By his obedience unto death, Christ communicated to his disciples the gift of royal freedom, so that they might "by the self-abnegation…”
- CCC 1850 “Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight."…”
- CCC 2641 “[Address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." Like…”
- CCC 2812 “Finally, in Jesus the name of the Holy God is revealed and given to us, in the flesh, as Savior, revealed by…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 201 “To Israel, his chosen, God revealed himself as the only One: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD; and…”
- CCC 434 “Jesus' Resurrection glorifies the name of the Saviour God, for from that time on it is the name of Jesus that fully…”
- CCC 449 “By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power,…”
- CCC 633 “Scripture calls the abode of the dead, to which the dead Christ went down, "hell" - Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in…”
- CCC 635 “Christ went down into the depths of death so that "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and…”
- CCC 2641 “[Address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." Like…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 201 “To Israel, his chosen, God revealed himself as the only One: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD; and…”
- CCC 449 “By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power,…”
- CCC 2641 “[Address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." Like…”
- CCC 2812 “Finally, in Jesus the name of the Holy God is revealed and given to us, in the flesh, as Savior, revealed by…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1949 “Called to beatitude but wounded by sin, man stands in need of salvation from God. Divine help comes to him in Christ…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1070 “In the New Testament the word "liturgy" refers not only to the celebration of divine worship but also to the proclamation of…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1070 “In the New Testament the word "liturgy" refers not only to the celebration of divine worship but also to the proclamation of…”
- CCC 1243 “The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has "put on Christ," has risen with Christ. the candle, lit from the Easter…”
“This is what is meant by Paul, [when he says,] "as lights in the world.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter V. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1070 “In the New Testament the word "liturgy" refers not only to the celebration of divine worship but also to the proclamation of…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1070 “In the New Testament the word "liturgy" refers not only to the celebration of divine worship but also to the proclamation of…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1070 “In the New Testament the word "liturgy" refers not only to the celebration of divine worship but also to the proclamation of…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1070 “In the New Testament the word "liturgy" refers not only to the celebration of divine worship but also to the proclamation of…”