Lives that Make an Impact for Christ

Philippians 2:19–30 NLT

19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. 25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

INTRODUCTION:

I- Timothy ()

A- Unique ().

Philippians 2:19–20 NLT

19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.

1- There was no one else like Timothy- He was unique.

a- Timothy had a unique attitude ( οὐδένα γὰρ ἔχω ἰσόψυχον= [lit.] I have no one who is minded like [Timothy]).

οὐδένα γὰρ ἔχω ἰσόψυχον, ὅστις γνησίως τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν μεριμνήσει·

B- Genuine ()

Philippians 2:20b NLT

20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.

1- Timothy’s concern for the Philippian believers is not contrived, but genuine (ὅστις γνησίως τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν μεριμνήσει)

C- Christ-Minded ().

Philippians 2:21 NLT

21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.

1- Timothy’s focus was upon Christ’s interests, not his own.

D- Proven Character ().

Philippians 2:22–24 NLT

22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

1- Timothy had proven himself to be totally faithful to Christ.

(τὴν δὲ δοκιμὴν αὐτοῦ= [lit.] he has proven his worth.)

τὴν δὲ δοκιμὴν αὐτοῦ

a. He had endured trials in his service for Christ.

(1) He had endured many with Paul. ()

Acts 20:4 NLT

4 Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

(Timothy is included in the “we” passages [Acts 20-21] outlining the perils Paul endured.)

b. He had proven faithful when entrusted with responsibilities.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians D. The Humility of Timothy and Epaphroditus (vv. 19–30)

1 Corinthians 4:17

()

1 Corinthians 4:17 NLT

17 That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

[see also Acts 17-19]

c. He had continued to humbly serve as he helped proclaim the gospel.

(1) ὅτι ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον = as a son with his father he has humbly served with me in the Gospel)

II- Epaphroditus ().

2-

ὅτι ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον

II- Epaphroditus ().

A- Affectionately Connected to other Christians ().

Philippians 2:25a NLT

25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.

1- Paul refers to him as a “true brother” (τὸν ἀδελφὸν= males of the same family)

a. This indicates a heartfelt bond arising from their relationship with Christ.

().

John 13:34–35 NLT

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

2- Epaphroditus’ attitude toward the Philippians reflected his concern for them, rather than himself. ().

Philippians 2:26 NLT

26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill.

B- Altruistically working with other Christians ().

a.

Philippians 2:26 NLT

26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill.

B- Altruistically working with other Christians ().

Philippians 2:25b NLT

25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.

1- συνεργόv m: one who works together with someone else—‘fellow worker.’

2- Refers to workmates that work together to accomplish a common task. Implies that both are working with common goals.

συνεργός, οῦ m: one who works together with someone else—‘fellow worker.’

C- Actively engaging in the eternal warfare ().

Philippians 2:25c NLT

25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.

1- συστρατιώτηv: (a figurative extension of meaning of συστρατιώτης ‘fellow soldier,’ not occurring in the NT) one who serves in arduous tasks or undergoes severe experiences together with someone else—‘one who struggles along with, one who works arduously along with, fellow struggler.

()

συστρατιώτης, ου m: (a figurative extension of meaning of συστρατιώτης ‘fellow soldier,’ not occurring in the NT) one who serves in arduous tasks or undergoes severe experiences together with someone else—‘one who struggles along with, one who works arduously along with, fellow struggler.

2 Timothy 2:3 NLT

3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

()

2 Timothy 4:7 NLT

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

CONCLUSION:

Notice that it is lives like Timothy and Epaphroditus that produce impact for Christ. It is these types of people that we should honor. ()

Philippians 2:29–30 NLT

29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

These are the types of lives that we should strive to imitate.

Living above our circumstances requires that we keep our eyes focused beyond ourselves onto the cause of Christ and the needs of other people.