Philippians 2:19-30 Faithful Workers

Introduction

At the begining of chapter 2 we find the call to humility followed by the example of the Condescension of Christ. Philippians 2:5–8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Then the Apostle moves to a call to Christians to continue in obedience by working out their own salvation. Not as a means of earning salvation but as a means of demonstrating who they are in Christ. This is done by doing all things without grumbling/murmuring or arguing in an effort to cause division and (positively) by holding fast the Word of Life. For if the believers did this, Paul would rejoice that his life was poured out in service to them just as a sacrificial drink offering was poured out for the Lord. Thus it is fitting for Paul to bring up two individuals who are/are willing to be poured out on behalf of the Philippians. Namely Timothy and Epaphroditus.

Text Read

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Text Explained

Timothy (19-24)

19 I hope/Paul is confident in the Lord Jesus/fully submitting his plans to the will of His Lord to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. The Apostle Paul knew that when Timothy got to the Philippians, Paul would receive news from Timothy that would encourage him. This is the confidence that Paul had in the Church at Philippi. He was so confident that they would respond positively to his exhortations in this letter, that when Timothy arrives, Timothy would send news as to their unity in mind and spirit in the faith. The Apostle Paul confidently expecting positive news from Timothy now speaks to the reason Timothy is the man being sent to them. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. not like the ‘dogs’ and ‘evil-doers’ Paul will mention in chapter 3. The word “like him” can literally be translated as “equal-souled”. In other words, Timothy’s care for the Philippians equal to that of the Apostle Paul’s own care for them. Timothy, when he arrives, will be genuinely concerned for the welfare of the Philippians. His care for the best interest of that local body. This is unlike others who seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Here the Apostle once again brings up some who use apparent godliness and even the preaching of the gospel, see 1:15, not for the interest of others, not in service of the Christ they preach, but for themselves. In chapter 3 the Apostle will call these people ‘dogs’ and ‘evildoers.’ These are the same type of people the Apostle Paul warns Timothy about in 1 Timothy 6:3–5 “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” There are people who believe godliness will bring them great personal gain. Whether that be financial profit, or being viewed as spiritually superior. These types of people exist and use godliness (or apparent godliness) for personal gain. Yet Timothy is not like them, Timothy is genuine in his care for the Philippians to the point where the Apostle Paul says he is ‘equal-souled’ in his care for them. But Paul doesn’t say “Hey take my word for it...” He says you know… 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, Timothy may not have been personally known to the Philippians, but Timothy’s testimony of perseverance alongside the Apostle Paul, enduring the same trials Paul endured, was known to them. The Philippians knew Timothy was as a son with a father he/Timothy has served with me/Paul in the gospel. Timothy has faithfully endured trials for the sake of the Gospel alongside Paul and the Philippians have heard of his endurance. Again the words the Apostle Paul would write to Timothy about those who are qualified for being an overseer/Pastor again come to mind. 1 Timothy 3:6 “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.” Timothy was not a recent convert, but rather one who has been tested and demonstrated endurance. This is the man Paul is sending to the Philippians, to help them in their time of need. So he once again says, 23 I hope therefore to send him/Timothy just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. Yet this is not the only person the Apostle is sending.

Epaphroditus (25-28)

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, Here we find a man named Epaphroditus, a Philippian man who had accompanied the Apostle Paul on behalf of the Church in Philippi. Paul says that he is not only sending Timothy, but also Epaphroditus, their own brother, immediate family member, worker, one who has labored, and fellow soldier of the cross, one who has engaged in spiritual warfare. Side note: Epaphroditus might possibly have been a retired actual soldier. We see woven into verses 25-30 the three reasons Paul thought it necessary to send him back. First we see that Epaphroditus ‘longs for them’ (vs 26). The second reason is so that they/the Philippians themselves will be glad to see him (vs28). The third reason was to alleviate Paul’s own sorrow/anxiety at the separation between Epaphroditus and his home church family (vs28). So for Epaphroditus’ joy, for the joy of the Philippians and for Paul’s own sake, he seeks to send Epaphroditus back to the Church at Philippi. 26 for he/Epaphroditus has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. We don’t know exactly what happened to Epaphroditus that caused him to become ill. It may have been due to overexertion, it may have been due to the trials they had to endure, it may have been due to simply getting sick while serving with Paul. We don’t know, but we do know that he continued to faithfully serve from how Paul described him in verse 25. My Brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and minster to my/Paul’s needs. His sickness was a type that seems to have been long lasting and debilitating. It was long enough for the Church in Philippi to hear about it and for Epaphroditus to receive news of their concern for him. Yet by the time he hears back, But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. By the time he receives news, he seems to have been on the mend yet the concern from the Philippians is so great that he desire to go back to them to demonstrate that Gods had mercifully healed him. Thus allowing the Philippians to be glad. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious/sorrowful. Meaning Paul’s sorrow at their sorrow would be relieved for they would not just have heard of healing, but seen him well. Thus Paul gives two commands.

Give Honor to Whom Honor is Due (29-30) (Regardless of station)

First, Paul commands the Philippians to 29 So receive him/Epaphroditus in the Lord with all joy, They are to receive this faithful worker in the Lord with all joy. The joy at his return seems to have been a natural desire for they already had great desire to see him, yet there is the qualifier, ‘in the Lord.’ As one scholar notes “Everything that believers do is “in the Lord” in some way or other. Here it probably reflects the fact that their common existence, theirs and Epaphroditus’s, is predicated on the fact that together they are “in the Lord,” meaning they belong to Him.” (Gordon Fee) and this command to welcome Epaphroditus back is also used as the template of others who are faithful like Epaphroditus. For the second command is this and honor such men, In other words, Epaphroditus is not the only worker who is worthy of being honored. Others who also “pour out their lives” on behalf of serving God should also be honored. It is good and right for Epaphroditus and those like him to be honored 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. The service that was lacking was not due to lack of desire, but lack of proximity. The entire Philippian Church could not be physically present with Paul, yet as their representative, Epaphroditus was able to fill that gap by working alongside Paul.

As one scholar notes; “Thus Paul concludes this brief narrative of proposed travel plans. The narrative is full of warmth and pathos, victory and trepidation. His affection for the Philippians spills over to them through his expressions of affection for Epaphroditus, their “ministrant” to his human needs. At the same time the passage echoes with notes of gratitude and joy, gratitude to God for his mercy in healing a brother, joy renewed as they see him again. Paul hints at his sorrows, but does not elaborate; instead, the passage is full of affection and honor for one who dared to risk his life “for the work of Christ” in bringing him material aid. His ultimate concern is that the Philippians themselves appreciate Epaphroditus for what he has done in their behalf for Paul’s sake. If he also thus serves as one who was willing to suffer for the sake of Christ, that note, while not played loudly, neither is played so softly that it cannot be heard. Thus, here is very personal material, which receives its theological moments because Paul seems incapable of doing anything otherwise. A passage like this ought to serve as a constant reminder to all of us (scholar, pastor, student of the Bible) that the NT was written in the context of real people in a very real world.” (Gordon Fee)

Text Applied:

Here in our text today we read of two men, one who is a Pastor, Shepherd and one who is a Layman. One is coming to give aid to this local church and the other is returning to the local church after having nearly died rendering aid to the Apostle Paul. The known actions of both of these men demonstrate the type of person that honor should be given to. Neither of them are seeking to uplift themselves, but rather the Apostle a third party is calling the Philippians to give them honor based upon the lived out actions of their lives. This reminds of the parable of Jesus in Luke 14:7–11 “Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is what happened to Jesus in the Great Condescension. He humbled Himself, and God the Father Exalted Him. So Paul commands the Philippians to honor/show respect in the Lord to these men. One who is coming to render aid and one who has rendered aid. They did not seek to lift themselves up but rather the Apostle points to them as proper examples and tells us to honor such as these. So take a peice of paper, and ask yourself who in your life deserves to be given honor? What godly examples have you had in your life that deserves to be given honor? Write down their names. I am not talking about only a pastor, deacon, etc. I am talking about faithful grandmas, grandpas, mothers, fathers, etc. Write out their names. This week, thank the Lord for them, and if they are still on this side of heaven, write them a note honoring them for being faithful examples to you.