Paul's Letters of Recommendation

Philippians 2:19-30

Philippians 2:19–30 ESV

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.

Intro: Letters of Recommendation

Walking worthy of the gospel looks like a life lived for Christ and others.

Timothy—a man unlike others—living a life worthy of the gospel.

Timothy models the very things that Paul says exemplify living a life worthy of the gospel.

“no one like him” or CSB “like-minded”

Phil. 2:2 “2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

Phil. 2:5 “5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”

“genuinely concerned for your welfare”

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

Phil 1:27 “27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”

Contrast with “For they all seek their own interests”

Phil 2:3 “3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Phil 1:15-17 “15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.”

“But you know Timothy’s proven worth”

Living out the gospel in their midst—this shows Paul’s certainty of his character that he calls the Philippians themselves to testify

He is a “turtle on a fencepost.”

Howard Hendricks expression

Timothy—son of mixed marriage

3rd generation Christian—probably a convert of Paul’s

Takes place of John Mark and becomes Paul apprentice

Several evidences in Scripture that he is timid or fearful and can be nervous or anxious

His stomach is weak or bothers him—maybe related to his anxiety

Paul sends him on several missions—not all successful

Paul is deeply attached to him and Timothy to Paul 2 TIM 1:4 “4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.” Paul writes about Timothy with more affection than anyone else: “how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.”

The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition Timothy

whose weaknesses are as apparent as his virtues

God uses him, despite his weaknesses, to do great things.—It is God who is at work in Timothy—He can use Timothy, not because Timothy is strong, but because Timothy is fully devoted to serving God and allows God to be strong for him in his weakness. It is not that Timothy is great for God but rather God is great for Timothy.

Application: Imagine be spoken of as Timothy is by someone so important as Paul. Imagine someone like Paul having such faith in you despite your weaknesses because he or she understood that you lived in the power of Christ and not your own power. He or she understood that you were who you were because someone else put you there—you were a turtle on a fencepost.

First, understand that we all can be like Timothy—not an imitation of what he did, but live a life worth of the gospel as he did. Like Timothy, we do it in the power of the Spirt and not our own strength. Most of us are more like Timothy than we are like Paul in our natural persons, but both Paul and Timothy understood that to work out their salvation, it meant God working in them and it meant their working in the strength and wisdom he provides.

Second, we can be a Paul to Timothy. We can pass to others what we know of Christ. We can mentor others. We can mostly encourage others in their walk with love and grace, not with harsh words and demands that represent the Law instead of the grace and mercy of Christ. Be a Paul to a Timothy—be intentional about it.

Epaphroditus—a servant of others—living a life worthy of the gospel.

Philippians 2:25-30

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.

Name means charming or handsome—only mentioned here in Philippians

He is from Philippi and delivered the gift from the Philippians and the news about them to Paul

Epaphroditus was man of many hats.—

Phil 2:25 “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,” —brother (spiritual family), fellow worker (co-laborer for gospel), fellow soldier (fighting for Gospel and wounded for his service), your messenger (chosen servant), and your minister to my need (servant for my needs)

Quite a resume for Paul’s reference letter

This guy does not shy away from service

He was a blessing to the Philippians

Phil 2: 28 “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.”

A man who imitated the example of Paul and Christ.

“longing for you all” —Paul

Phil 1:8 “8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

“distressed because he heard you were ill”—Paul

Not upset over sickness but concerned about how the Philippians were handling it

His concern is for the interests of the Philippians and not himself—My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 1:23–25.

This is an incredibly testimony to Christ as well. When at his lowest, his focus is not on himself but on others being distressed in finding out his condition. This does not happen without being made new in Christ.

“near to death” “for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” for the sake of his obedience to God

Example of Jesus who was obedient to the point of death

We are fascinated by the idea of a dying man’s words. When life is on the line, we tend to strip away all of the superfluous and focus on the essential. Material things become less important, relationships rises to the top; status and prestige lose their importance, authenticity takes precedence. At that time the most important relationships become clear because those that were just for show or for social status no longer glisten in the fading light. We are concerned with those who really matter to us. When death was close to Epaphroditus, his heart turned to the Philippians. His concern was for them and their welfare.

Application: Where would your heart go if you were facing the end of your life? Who would long to see one more time? Who would you be concerned that might be impacted or left in sorrow by your death? Who might you long to tell about Jesus because you had not yet and this was your last chance?

A lesson for you and me—do not wait to invest in those who matter to you. Serve them, love them, spend time with them. If there are those you would want to tell about Jesus, do it now. You do not know if you have another day or if they do. Love them enough to share the greatest and most important message you could ever share—the gospel.

Paul’s character and ministry reveal his living a life worthy of the gospel

“Much as Paul loved doctrine, he also greatly loved people.” A. T. Robertson

Paul’s whole life is “in Christ.” In every matter, he operates only in Christ.

Phil 1:14 “14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Phil 1:21 “21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Phil 2:19 “19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.”

Phil 2:21 “21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

Phil 2:24 “24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.”

Phil 2:29 “29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,”

Phil 3:9 “9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”

Reflects Paul trust in the sovereignty of God

2:19; 2:24 and Phil 2:27 “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.”

Seen throughout Scripture:

Prov 16:9 “9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” ;

Prov 27:1 “1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” ;

James 4:13-16 “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.”

Paul understands that ministry is not a solo act

Paul makes it a habit of using others in ministry

Timothy does not serve Paul but serves with Paul

Paul calls Epaphroditus “fellow”—no pride in Paul here

Paul’s central focus in his ministry is the gospel

Paul’s chief concern, and the ultimate reason for this letter, is the progress of the gospel in Philippi.

This is what he reminds them of in the thanksgiving; this is what he wants them to know about his own situation, that it is advancing the gospel in Rome even in the face of opposition; and this is what he wants to learn about them (1:27), that they are walking “worthy of the gospel” in the face of opposition and suffering in Philippi (2:14–16).

Fee, Gordon D.. Paul's Letter to the Philippians (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

We see this in this passage in Phil 2:19 “19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.”

“: 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.

Honor men because of what they are doing for the gospel.

In Paul’s highest praise of Timothy being like a son with a father it is because he served in the gospel ministry.

Paul says about Epaphroditus in Phil 2:29-30 “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.”

Paul never moves beyond this theme—the gospel is central to all that he does and he operates only “in Christ”

Ever run into someone who only know one thing or wants to talk about only one thing? Whether it is politics or history or sports or decorating or cooking, they are single-focused. If you like that thing, then you may enjoy that person in certain settings but eventually it will wear on you. I have known some people where sports are their only focus. I had a group of 4 young men in one of my classes who made up one of the table groups. They were bright intelligent young men in Honors US History, but their every conversation was about sports, even if there were to be discussing the New Deal, they somehow got to sports. Their group name was TX—all groups were all called by a states’ names—but I changed them to ESPN. It was fun for a while, but after a while, it got old.

This was Paul and the gospel. It did not matter what the topic started with, the gospel was going to come out of him. He was going to bring it up. He doesn’t care if anyone else thought it got old because it never did to him. He made no apologies and he had no regrets because he knew that ultimately nothing else mattered. When all of history ends, all the other topics that dominate people’s time and conversations, all that will ultimately matter is the gospel.

Does the gospel flow from your life and mine? Is your and my first thought in looking at the sin of others grace or condemnation? If it is condemnation, then you and I have forgotten the glory of the gospel and the fact that we too were lost in our sins but now by the grace of God we stand forgiven and free from the penalty of sin.

Do you feel the weight of sin in your life? Are there times when you simply hate who you are and what you do but you cannot seem to change. I am here to tell you that you cannot in your own power change or do anything about the sin that brings guilt to you, but Jesus can. He came to this earth, lived a sinless life, and then died to pay for the penalty of sin of those who are willing to trust him--to put their faith in his death and resurrection--so that you could be forgiven and free of sin’s guilt. Trust him today and find out why Paul was so centered on the gospel, why it is so glorious that we exist as a church solely to proclaim the gospel to the world. Talk to me after the service or contact me this week. Talk to someone you know who knows Jesus and learn how you can celebrate with Paul and with us, in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Walking worthy of the gospel looks like a life lived for Christ and others. What is your response?

Timothy—a man unlike others because he holds to the gospel like Paul and as a result he seeks the good of others first.

Epaphroditus—a servant of others because he models Christ and Paul in serving others for the sake of the gospel.

Paul—a man whose character reveals his commitment to spreading and living the gospel. The gospel is his focus in life.

Three examples worthy to follow because they follow Christ. What is your response this morning? Do you need to commitment following Christ more like one of these men. Maybe this morning you need to start following Christ by placing your faith in him for the first time.

Respond this morning where you are or come forward and tap me on the shoulder and let me talk with you. If you are here or watching online and need to need to talk to me this week, email me at [e-mail]