Godly Examples
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Philippians 2:19-30
Philippians 2:19-30
But I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.
For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.
For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.
But you know of his proven character, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.
Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me;
and I trust in the Lord that I myself will also be coming shortly.
But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need,
because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.
Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you.
Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold people like him in high regard,
because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to compensate for your absence in your service to me.
Leadership in the church
One of the things you will note about Paul, not just in the letter to the Philippian church, but in all his letters, is his heart as a leader.
Paul encourages where there needs encouragement...
Paul disciplines where there needs discipline...
Paul corrects where there needs correcting...
Paul rebukes where there needs rebuking...
Paul is a bold leader and is not afraid to hold back or speak the truth. Paul’s whole goal was to preach Christ and Him crucified and to lead people into an ongoing and transformative relationship with Christ.
Paul mentioned over 80 unique individuals in his 13 letters. Some he mentioned to encourage, some to thank, some to rebuke, some to correct, some to train, etc.
In Philippians he mentions only 4: Timothy, Epaphroditus, Euodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4).
Philippians 2:19
Timothy
Paul hopes, in the Lord that Timothy would be able to travel to Philippi and visit the church there. Paul is not sure as to when, but that is his desire.
Paul wants to send Timothy, so he can hear how they are doing. And, it is an encouragement for Paul to hear how the church in Philippi is obeying, by following the Lord.
Timothy was a man after God’s heart and from what we read in Scripture, he earnestly sought to follow Christ and do Hi work.
He was born in Lystra to a Jewish mother and a Greek Father.
His name time-theos means honoring, reverence to God or God honoring
Paul had Timothy circumcised, since their ministry would involve many of the Jewish cohort. And yes, for Paul circumcision meant nothing, but in this case it was a matter of ministering to Jews, for they would probably not listen to a Greek about the Gospel.
And, if you recall, any arguments pertaining to circumcision were not a matter of ministry, they were a matter of works.
We know that Timothy was steeped in the Old Testament and became a vital part of Paul’s ministry.
Paul described Timothy as a...
“Fellow worker” (Rom 16:21; 1 Thess 3:2)
“Brother” (2 Cor 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Thess 3:2)
“Bond-servant” (Phil 1:1)
“Beloved and faithful child in the Lord” (1 Cor 4:17)
“Son” (1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2)
Coequal in the Lord’s work (1 Cor 16:10; 1 Thess 3:2)
Timothy was Paul’s Son in the Faith and Paul His Spiritual Father. Perhaps, because his earthly father did not have faith, so Paul became the Father that would help Timothy grow in the Lord. We do not know. These terms are not used often.
Timothy was perhaps, Paul’s most loyal companion.
That is what discipleship is. If you lead one to Christ, than you could be considered their spiritual father or mother. Then it is your responsibility to help them grow into the faith. One of goals here and the priorities of the ARC is to make disciples.
Philippians 2:20
Paul is desiring to send Timothy, because there was no one else that was truly concerned about their welfare. Timothy had an interest and care in how the Philippians were doing. He had them in his heart, and cared deeply about them.
There was no one else that was like-minded as Paul. Paul and Timothy had the same mind and Spirit in their love and care for those in Philippi.
Philippians 2:21
Anyone else Paul would have sent, would have been going for selfish reasons, or to get something out of it. Maybe. Or, they did not want to go, because they had other things to attend to.
cf. Phil. 1:15-17, 2:3-4
Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
There was a need for the church in Philippi and there was need for Paul. Paul wanted to hear on the condition of those in Philippi and he wanted to be encouraged.
Notice what Paul said, their interests were more important than those of Christ Jesus.
How many of us put our personal interests above those of Christ? How much easier is it to focus on your own needs, than the needs of others?
I do not know many people who are good at this. Myself included.
This is a hard truth realized.
What are the interests of Christ? Love Him, Love Others. Live out your faith by good works. Serve and Sacrifice.
Philippians 2:22-23
The Philippian church was well acquainted with Timothy and his call to ministry. Paul used the term, “proven character.”
Proven Character
proven character: to test, examine, amounting to enduring something that would validate one’s character.
The Philippian church knew of his “proven character?” When Paul first found Timothy, in Acts 16, he took him with him on his missionary journey. Timothy would go to Philippi with Paul, on Paul’s first visit.
Fascinating, if you know the story, Paul and Silas were the ones beaten and thrown into prison. Not Timothy. Perhaps Timothy was ministering to the people of the Philippian church or off on another missionary assignment.
Romans 5:1-5 speaks of the character of the godly person. One who received the grace of God. Because they are following Jesus, they have experienced trials in their lives; Satan’s attacks, fleshly struggles of self worth and lies from Satan, maladies, persecution, medical concerns, familial concerns, etc.
It is only through Christ and His enduring love toward us that we press on; we persevere. When we persevere the result is “proven Character.”
So, with Timothy, we can look back at his life and know that He has faith in Jesus Christ, he has endured tribulation, he has persevered through these trials in his life and has proven his character as a follower of Jesus Christ.
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.
For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless in regard to the faith.
But they will not make further progress; for their foolishness will be obvious to all, just as was that also of Jannes and Jambres.
Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;
so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.
I want to run through this passage because the context of it is so imperative, to understanding Timothy’s ministry. What he had gone through, and what Paul wanted him to focus on.
When we walk and are led by the Spirit our goals in life, the existential reasons we are here, are made more clear. Our focus is removed from the worlds ideologies of existentialism and they become focused on righteous living through Jesus Christ.
Notice Paul’s comment to Timothy, “He served with me in the furtherance of the Gospel.” Their ministry was to further the Gospel, to expand its reach to those whom have not heard the truth yet. To seek and save the lost, whom have not been found yet.
Your ‘proven character’ is demonstrated by how you live your life for Christ.
Remember the context of the previous passages: Think of others as more important than yourself, look out for the interests of others, do not be selfish, do not complain, be a light in the world, be united in Spirit, etc.
Paul then turned to the example of Timothy. This is not a coincidence. I imagine Paul writing this letter and getting to a point where he was determined to send Timothy. He knew what he had just wrote about was demonstrated in Timothy. Timothy cared for the Philippian Church, and apparently he was the only one genuinely concerned for them.
Paul would send Timothy as soon as possible. He was just waiting to hear about what exactly would be happening to him. For he probably wanted to offer a full report to the church in Philippi.
Philippians 2:24
Paul’s desire was to visit them as well. To be encouraged and to be an encouragement. He had a deep love for them, an agape love, which was mutually reciprocated by the church in Philippi.
Philippians 2:25
But… (it was necessary)
Instead of Timothy heading out soon, Paul would send Epaphroditus (Handsome or charming: a common name in Greek).
Epaphroditus
Brother...
Fellow Worker...
Fellow Soldier...
The Philippians
Messenger...
Minister...
To meet the needs of Paul. He was sent by the Philippian church to bring Paul goods and tithes. A Gift (Phil. 4:18).
Philippians 2:26-27
Epaphroditus was longing to be back home with his brothers and sisters in Philippi. He was unable to return because he was sick to the point of death.
God had mercy on Epaphroditus and healed him. Paul also received the mercy, so he would not have an abundance of sorrow.
What do we learn about God in these two verses?
He is Sovereign over life and death. He healed and allowed Epaphroditus to live. This was for God’s purposes. But also for Paul and the Philippian church.
We have to rest in God’s Sovereignty. The more I have learned about Him and spent time with Him, studying and trying to live out His Word in my life, the more I understand. I do not fully understand.
However, it helps me know the truth, and through Hope in Him I am able to press on.
Especially when a loved one is sick or in pain. I pray for constant healing that God would have mercy on them. Know that when He does, it is for the benefit of that person, but also those that may be family or close friends.
Look at what Paul noted. First, it was mercy on Epaphroditus, then Paul. Why so his sorrow would not be extenuated.
I think we often miss that God’s mercy extends to others, than the one who is physically suffering. Have you ever thought that God is also considering you in all this?
Philippians 2:28
Paul sent Epaphroditus. Why? For the sake of the Philippian Church and Epaphroditus. They missed each other and it was weighing on them both. Paul sought to restore their fellowship, so it would be one lest burden they had to carry, had to be concerned with.
When there are burdens we often find ourselves fixated on them. Once those are reconciled, we are able to carry on with our daily calling.
Have you ever noticed this in your life?
Selfless Love
Philippians 2:29-30
It was Epaphroditus that served in a selfless way, for the Kingdom of God.
The Philippian church had no opportunity to send anyone previously. (Phil. 4:10). Now, that Epaphroditus was able to visit and bring the gift, Paul was grateful.
Paul said to hold him in high regard. Not status. There are some Christians who have a high propensity to serve and are valuable to the cause of Christ. Their life is about serving and loving others at all costs.
They sacrifice their personal desires for the sake of others. They are willing to go the distance and even fight through the sicknesses and pain.
