« | Philippians 2 | » |
1 Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God's Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others.
2 Now make me completely happy! Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person.
3 Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves.
4 Care about them as much as you care about yourselves
5 and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought:
6 Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God.
7 Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us.
8 Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross.
9 Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others.
10 So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
11 And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, "Jesus Christ is Lord!"
12 My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, you should obey even more. So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved.
13 God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing.
15 Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world,
16 as you hold firmly to the message that gives life. Then on the day when Christ returns, I can take pride in you. I can also know that my work and efforts were not useless.
17 Your faith in the Lord and your service are like a sacrifice offered to him. And my own blood may have to be poured out with the sacrifice. If this happens, I will be glad and rejoice with you.
18 In the same way, you should be glad and rejoice with me.
19 I want to be encouraged by news about you. So I hope the Lord Jesus will soon let me send Timothy to you.
20 I don't have anyone else who cares about you as much as he does.
21 The others think only about what interests them and not about what concerns Christ Jesus.
22 But you know what kind of person Timothy is. He has worked with me like a son in spreading the good news.
23 I hope to send him to you, as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me.
24 And I feel sure that the Lord will also let me come soon.
25 I think I ought to send my dear friend Epaphroditus back to you. He is a follower and a worker and a soldier of the Lord, just as I am. You sent him to look after me,
26 but now he is eager to see you. He is worried, because you heard he was sick.
27 In fact, he was very sick and almost died. But God was kind to him, and also to me, and he kept me from being burdened down with sorrow.
28 Now I am more eager than ever to send Epaphroditus back again. You will be glad to see him, and I won't have to worry any longer.
29 Be sure to give him a cheerful welcome, just as people who serve the Lord deserve.
30 He almost died working for Christ, and he risked his own life to do for me what you could not.
The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern Bible translation that aims to make the scriptures accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including children and those with limited English proficiency. Published by the American Bible Society in 1995, the CEV emphasizes clarity, readability, and ease of comprehension. Unlike more literal translations, the CEV uses a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, which focuses on conveying the original meaning of the text in a way that is clear and straightforward for contemporary readers.
One of the key features of the CEV is its use of everyday language and simple sentence structures. The translators avoided theological jargon and archaic terms, instead opting for language that is commonly used in daily conversation. This makes the CEV particularly well-suited for public reading, educational settings, and outreach programs where the audience might not be familiar with traditional biblical language. The translation strives to communicate the essence of the biblical message without the barriers that complex language can sometimes create.
The CEV also pays special attention to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The translators sought to avoid expressions and idioms that might be misunderstood or offensive in different cultural contexts. Additionally, the CEV includes gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to make the text more inclusive while still remaining faithful to the original manuscripts. This approach helps ensure that Bible teachings are accessible to a diverse global audience, promoting understanding and acceptance across different cultures and communities.
Despite its strengths, the CEV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more literal translations. Critics argue that the CEV emphasises on simplicity and readability which can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Some theologians and scholars believe that the thought-for-thought approach may oversimplify complex theological concepts. Nevertheless, the Contemporary English Version remains a valuable resource for many readers, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that is particularly effective for those new to the scriptures or those seeking a more accessible way to engage with the biblical text.