Philippians 2:19-30
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Timothy and Epaphroditus
Timothy and Epaphroditus
Good evening...
We come back to the book of Philippians chapter 2,
Remember last week Paul was encouraging the believers at Philippi to continue in obedience, fulfilling the lives they were called to live in Christ in the midst of a lost world
And in particular he called them to “work out their salvation...” not that salvation is through works, but we work, serve because we are saved.
You cannot depend or rely on past success alone, but we are demonstrate our faith day by day.
Our faith is a growing daily faith that is lived out toward the world around us.
So lets begins as Paul speaks of future plans, verses 19-30
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.
So lets begins with the first two verses
Verses 19-20 Phil 2:19-20
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.
So Paul starts out by saying that he desires to send Timothy to them very soon.
Remember Paul is under imprisonment there in Rome, so while he cannot go himself he will send an emissary to see them.
He seeks to send Timothy. Timothy was a co-worker with Paul in the gospel and from all we know he had a very close relationship with Paul. Paul often referred to him as my “Son in the Ministry; or my Son in the faith.”
Now we know that Paul was encouraged by Timothy, in fact he needed a person like Timothy who could come alongside of Him to pray for and with him.
In fact we all need a Timothy...... We cannot live this life alone, now I know we are not alone, but we need that physical presence, help and blessings of others who love us and work with us.
So Paul says I hope to send Timothy to you. Remember, Paul is imprisoned, he is awaiting trial from Caesar. Paul expects that he will be free, and not put to death, and hes desire is that if he is freed that he can send Timothy to them with the good news of the providence of God.
Paul was trusting God, either way he would blessed.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
Paul hoped to send Timothy to them with the good news of his release I think, but I believe that he also hoped to hear good news of them from Timothy. it would encourage him if those believers there were walking and living in harmony with no division.
Then verse 20
20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
I like that.. I have no one like him.... Timothy was indeed one of a kind my friends.
To have no one like him speaks to the idea that that they were of a kindred spirit, they were like minded.
He shared Paul’s vision and concern for the world, and why not Paul has discipled him. Sp Timothy was his young preacher boy we might say here.
Paul said Timothy was genuinely concerned for their welfare....
He blessed Paul, walked with him and shared his passions.
Here is a question,
How can you do with in the life of another, how can you disciple and influence another person’s life for Christ that they live to replicate the faith
Now, in contrast to Timothy who cared for them like Paul did, Paul says there others do not have the same views
Verse 21
21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
In comparison if you will, Paul says Timothy has lived his life differently than most, he sought the interests of Christ above his own,
We can see this for Paul has already told us that Timothy is like him, like minded or like souled.
This isn’t a job for Timothy, it is his calling from almighty God.
Timothy is different, he lived differently, others Paul says ( he calls them they: the others preachers in Rome) seek their own interests and agenda.
There are some in Rome who are jealous of Paul, who envy this place, how God has used him. I would dare say there are those in this world who are or have been jealous of Billy Graham, or others like him.
Sad state my friends, be happy for where God has called you and be faithful there. Amen…
Now verse 22
22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
When you look at this verse we see that Paul is saying that Paul is battle tested. He has proven himself. He is not easily rattled.
You know his proven worth, he has been tested .. like gold put into the first and it makes it better.
Often you do not know a person’s character until they are stressed, pressed and heated.... at times when squeezed you get different than what you thought..
And for some… they are still the same
Timothy is one whose anchor holds.
He was far different that John Mark who went with Paul on his 1st missionary journey and then through part of the journey he bailed and left…Paul wouldn’t let him come again, but Timothy is different, when Paul said lets go… his words figuratively were always yes sir not where are we going.
The second part of verse 22, Paul says Timothy was a hard worker, as a son with the father, He has served with me, in the gospel. He has worked and served as one who literally owes his life to God because of his salvation
Do you live like you owe God.... man we owe him, how can we not serve.
Timothy is battle tested, life tested and he has proven himself as faithful to the work of God.
Let me ask you a question: Do you see yourself as a faithful Timothy? And if not, ask God to give you confidence and strength for the mission set before you...
And then look at verses 23-24
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.
Paul hoped to send Timothy to you as soon as I know what my verdict is.. Timothy was willing to make that 800 mile trip to them and then 800 mile back to Paul to being the report back to Him
Paul also longed to travel to them, If it was God’s will he would be faithful to travel to them.
Now look this last section concerns Epaphroditus, verse 25-30
Verse 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,
While Paul found it necessary to send Timothy to them, he also wanted to send Epaphroditus to them as well.
Now Epaphroditus was a indeed a gift from the Philippians to Paul. He came originally to Paul for two reasons: 1. To bring words of love from the church, but also to bring 2. He brought a financial gift from them to Paul...
Paul refers very warmly to them.... brother, fellow worker, messenger and minister… Epaphroditus had a very self giving character. He has traveled a long way, 800 miles to help. He cared for Paul and he wanted to help. He knew helping Paul was helping God continue with his plans to reach the world
Verses 26-28
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.
When you see this we know that several things have taken place, and some continue to happen...
Here is what i see here
1. He was home sick… Philippi was his Home, He was willing, faithful to stay there and minister to and with Paul.... but he was longing for them as well.
2. He had been ill… apparently that 800 mile trip had taken it’s toll on him, Honestly I cannot imagine that type of journey. Some part would be on ship but there would be a lot of walking…
I have followed a lot of people who walked the AT, it takes them 3 to 4 months…
But not only had he been ill, it hurt him knowing they worried for him. But maybe he worried if they thought maybe he couldnt carry out his duties and maybe had failed because of his illness.
Paul wants them to know what while Epaphroditus had been ill, near death,BUT he was faithful, he served well and he represented the Philippian believers well.
3. God had mercy on him Paul testifies. And Paul is blessed because he would have been broken hearted if he had to report to them that this servant had died, and he died coming to serve him...
4. Paul says I am even more excited to send him back to you, so you can rejoice with him.
There is something about rejoicing with a person who has completed their task. It is like sending a person or team on a mission trip and when they make it back home safely you rejoice with them and you rejoice at the work they completed.
Praise the Lord for faithful servants and the work they do for God, but praise God also in send them and allowing them to return and carry words to encourage us.
Now Verses 28-30
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.
Paul also expressed his own emotion here, He knew it was would be good to send Epaphroditus back to them, so He was doing just that, sending him home.
Paul wanted to make sure they received him well. Paul tells them to honor him.
Why? He has risked his life for Paul, so the ministry of the gospel, helping Paul continue to speak truth in love and work for the sake of the gospel even if from jail.
He deserved honor means precious worth, Epaphroditus was a precious individual, remember unlike others, He put the work of Christ like timothy ahead of his own life and ministry.
This last phrase “risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me...” Please know Paul is not criticizing them or saying they didn’t do enough..
No.... The gift they said they would send to Paul came as well with the promised of someone coming to work alongside and help Paul.
It was a special way the church chose to honor the beloved apostle. Thus, their gift, as they intended it, had three stages.
First, they collected the gift.
Second, they selected a courier to go to Paul.
Third, that courier was to remain with Paul for an extended time, presumably at the church’s expense.
They intended all three, but the church at large could only do one. The rest was the responsibility of Epaphroditus. What they could not do, the “lacks” in their ministry, he attempted to do.
They managed to do the one, Epaphroditus stepped up and made the rest happen
Paul was so appreciate of all they had done for him, even is it stretched them some… He honored their serve but wanted them to honor Epaphroditus as he returned as a faithful servant.
Oh that we would serve always to be a faithful servant.....!!