Pursuing Christ through Humility and Sacrifice

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Paul has challenged Christians in Philippi that they are to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, he’s helping them see clearly to help them press on in the faith. He then helps them put on gospel lenses to see Jesus’ example who is God but humbled humbled himself to serve and sacrifice his life as a ransom payment for our sin.

Paul has challenged Christians in Philippi that they are to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, he’s helping them see clearly to help them press on in the faith. He then helps them put on gospel lenses to see Jesus’ example who is God but humbled humbled himself to serve and sacrifice his life as a ransom payment for our sin.

Now in the last half of Paul sets 2 other examples before them: Timothy and Ἐπαφρόδιτος (Epaphroditus).

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(ESV)

Timothy and Epaphroditus

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.

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Pursuing Christ means entrusting your plans, hopes and dreams to His will.

Pursuing Christ means entrusting your plans, hopes and dreams to His

In this transitional section of Paul’s letter, his confidence in God’s good purpose for his life, and the life of the Philippian church, jumps off the page. “I hope in the Lord Jesus...”

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Christ is Lord over Paul’s plans

Paul’s heart is bound up with the Philippians’ progress and joy in the gospel.

Remember the main point of the letter (1:27) is that we are to let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether (Paul) comes and sees (them) or is absent, (he) may hear of (them) that (they) are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

Paul is deeply concerned about the spiritual welfare and progress in the faith of the Philippian church.

In other words, whatever you’re going through has gospel purpose:

difficult relationship - how does God want to reveal himself to you and others through it?

This is Paul’s aim.

(gentle tone) fearful medical diagnosis - trust God’s goodness in every detail of your life, even this, so that when others see you resting in Christ you may have ample opportunity to share Christ with them.

need to forgive someone and reconcile? You going about it according to human wisdom of God’s wisdom, because human wisdom will never get you there.

Second, the purpose clause shows that Paul’s joy is tied to the welfare of the Philippians and the progress of the gospel among them, not his own welfare. Paul never leaves his central concern in this letter: the spread of the gospel among the Philippians.

Notice the “so that” in v19 - this is a “purpose clause.” It helps us see the main point of what he is writing.

Have you ever been in a conversation and one or both of you begin to talk about all sorts of secondary issues to the degree that you almost forget what you’re trying to achieve in the conversation. Someone has to bring it back and might say something like, “Look, we started talking about this so that ...” - that is a purpose clause.

Paul wants to send Timothy to the Philippians so that Timothy can return to Paul with good new of their progress in the faith. Paul’s not concerned with how he’s doing in prison…nor is he concerned with whether they’re having a “good day.” Paul wants them to see good circumstances, hard circumstances, confusing circumstances in light of the gospel…the spreading of the message of Jesus among other Philippians.

There’s a specific phrase that ties it all back to the main point in 1:27:

2:20 Verses 19 and 20 share a specific phrase tying this discussion back to the main point of the letter (1:27) and the parallel point from Paul’s update (1:12). Perhaps my own translation will highlight the parallels:

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I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me (the things according to me [ta kat’ eme])have really served to advance the gospel. (1:12)

I may hear of you (or, of the things concerning you [ta peri hymōn]) that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. (1:27)

I hope in the Lord to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by new of you (or, the things concerning you [ta peri hymōn]). (2:19)

For I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare (or, the things concerning you [ta peri hymōn]). (2:20)

Just like they received an update from Paul of his standing firm for the spread of the gospel despite his suffering (1:12),

so he wants to hear of their standing firm in the gospel despite their suffering (1:27).

Now he tells them that he is sending Timothy, so that he can boomerang back, and Paul can receive such a report so that he can rejoice because of their progress in the gospel (2:19).

Paul can send Timothy confidently because he knows Timothy shares the same heart and mind of Christ that Paul has... He, like Paul, is genuinely concerned for the Philippians.

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Let’s look at the dialog of verses 19-24

Paul: Hope (in the Lord Jesus) to send Timothy soon (19)

Philippians: Why him?

Paul: There’s no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare (20)

Philippians: Why is that? (Or really? Why?)

Paul: Everyone else seeks their own interests, not Christ’s; But Timothy has proven character (21-22)

Timothy is genuinely concerned for the things concerning you [ta peri hymōn]. (2:20)

All others seek the things of themselves [ta heautōn]. (2:21)

Selfishness plagues all of humanity, and believers are not exempt from that…I know because I fight it every day (and sometimes not hard enough). Paul’s reference to “all” who seek their own interests also takes the reader back to the situation Paul himself faces in Rome, where some preach Christ out of envy, rivalry, and selfish ambition (, ).

Timothy has The Mind of Christ

// The Example of Timothy

Paul says,

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (2:4). (Mind of Christ)

// “They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (2:21). (Ex. of Timothy)

Jesus emptied himself “by taking the form of a servant [doulos]” (2:7). (Mind of Christ)

// Timothy “as a son with a father he has served [douleuō] with me in the gospel” (2:22). (Timothy’s ex.)

Timothy has had plenty of opportunity to to prove his worth as a gospel ambassador. See the father/son language Paul uses in v22: as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. What gentle, familial language. (Also in ; ; .)

// The Example of Timothy

Paul says,

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (2:4). (Mind of Christ)

// “They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (2:21). (Ex. of Timothy)

Jesus emptied himself “by taking the form of a servant [doulos]” (2:7). (Mind of Christ)

// Timothy “as a son with a father he has served [douleuō] with me in the gospel” (2:22). (Timothy’s ex.)

Philippians: So, as I was saying…

Philippians: So, as I was saying…

(23-24) I hope to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

The only delay is the things concerning me: will I get to come to you or be poured out as a drink offering (18) for your faith?

And notice his final phrase before he shifts gears

(; ; )

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016).)

Pursuing Christ through Humility means submitting all - every - single - one - of your plans to the Lord.

If there’s a theme you see through all of Scripture, it’s the supreme rule of the Lord over everything.

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Proverbs 16:1 ESV

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

James 4:13–16 ESV

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

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Hebrews 6:3 ESV

3 And this we will do if God permits.

This is how we need to talk about our plans. Individuals. Ministry teams. Elders. Deacons. Church members.

This is not to assume it’s easy. Christianity is not easy, which is why God says that it is faith that pleases him. I can’t see how this works - I don’t understand why this happened - I hate the circumstance - but I know God, and I know that He is good, and my heart is bound to his, so I’ll follow Christ, pursue Christ, believing - being confident that the next step of solid ground will be there when I take this next step.

Paul continues to tell them of another example of faith-filled living he is sending to them,

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Philippians 2:25

2:21 Paul contrasts Timothy’s uniqueness with others’ inclination to seek their own interests. Here again is my own translation:

Paul’s Perspective: Fellow worker

Philippians’ Perspective: Minister to Paul’s needs

Paul’s Perspective: Fellow soldier

All others seek the things of themselves [ta heautōn]. (2:21)

Philippians’ Perspective: Messenger/Ambassador

Paul’s Perspective: Brother

This selfishness plagues all of humanity. Paul’s reference to “all” who seek their own interests also takes the reader back to the situation Paul himself faces in Rome, where some preach Christ out of envy, rivalry, and selfish ambition (, ).

Philippians’ Perspective: Highly honored

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Philippians 2:25-30

Paul: Thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus

Philippians: Why?

Paul: He was longing for them and was distressed

Philippians: Why?

Paul: They heard he was sick.

Philippians: Seriously? Really?

Paul: Serious, nearly died. Instead, God had mercy on him (and me!)

Philippians: So, as I was saying...

Paul: Eagerly sending him

Philippians: Why?

Paul: So they’d rejoice and Paul would relax

Philippians: How should they respond?

Paul: Welcome him with all joy, hold such ones in high regard

Philippians:

TABLE 2.10: The Christlike Example of Timothy

Ephesians–Philemon Section Overview

TABLE 2.10: The Christlike Example of Timothy

The Mind of Christ

The Example of Timothy

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (2:4).

“They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (2:21).

Jesus emptied himself “by taking the form of a servant [doulos]” (2:7).

Timothy “as a son with a father he has served [douleuō] with me in the gospel” (2:22).

Section Outline

// The Example of Timothy

The Example of Timothy

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (2:4).

// “They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (2:21).

“They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (2:21).

Jesus emptied himself “by taking the form of a servant [doulos]” (2:7).

// Timothy “as a son with a father he has served [douleuō] with me in the gospel” (2:22).

Timothy “as a son with a father he has served [douleuō] with me in the gospel” (2:22).

Section Outline

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