He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!

I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee.

and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation – a sign which is from God.

As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,

but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.

But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel.

For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account.

I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,

Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you.

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world

by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that – whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent – I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,

In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless.

The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ,

Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.