Philippians 2:18
ESV
Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
NIV
So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
NASB
You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
CSB
In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.
NLT
Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
KJV
For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
NKJV
For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
What does Philippians 2:18 mean?
This verse extends Paul's joy in being used to serve others as an invitation to his readers. Just as Paul was glad and rejoiced, he wanted his readers to be glad as well. Verses 14–17 deal with some difficult, negative aspects of life Paul needed to address. Because his focus in this letter is positive, he quickly transitioned back to a positive tone of joy. Joy has been mentioned multiple times to this point in Paul's letter (Philippians 1:4, 18, 25; 2:2).The next verse begins a section designed to bring joy to Paul's readers. The chapter also ends with a focus on joy (Philippians 2:29) and begins the next chapter with rejoicing (Philippians 3:1). Chapter 4 likewise emphasizes joy (Philippians 4:1), includes more emphasis on rejoicing (Philippians 4:4, 10) and ends with many positive greetings (Philippians 4:21–23). Joy was clearly an emphasis of his letter to the Philippians.
