Philippians 2

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.

In their book, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, R. Kent and Barbara Hughes quote the following words from Hugh Evan Hopkins, the biographer of Charles Simeon, the famous British minister.

When in 1808 Simeon’s health broke down and he had to spend some eight months recuperating on the Isle of Wight, it fell to Thomason to step into the gap and preach as many as five times on a Sunday in Trinity Church and Stapleford. He surprised himself and everyone else by developing a preaching ability almost equal to his vicar’s, at which Simeon, totally free from any suggestion of professional jealousy, greatly rejoiced. He quoted the Scripture, “He must increase; but I must decrease,” and told a friend, “Now I see why I have been laid aside. I bless God for it.”[1]

Charles Simeon’s response to the successful preaching of Thomason in his absence is powerful. In seeing it as God’s will and in being willing to embrace second place, Simeon demonstrated:

• that he considered the church more important than himself;
• that he considered the effective preaching of the gospel more important than his own advancement;
• that he loved the body of Christ.

I would propose that these truths apply equally to the Apostle Paul, and it is in the book of Philippians where this becomes most evident. Here, in verses 19–30 of chapter 2, Paul talks to the Philippians about two people who are with him: Timothy and Epaphroditus. In doing so, Paul demonstrates that these brothers also demonstrated the same kind of humility and love for the body of Christ. What is more, Paul helps us to see in the example of these two friends what true servants of God look like.

A true servant of God loves the church like Jesus loves the church.

We begin with Paul’s initial words about Timothy.

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

Let us first get the lay of the land. Paul is in prison, likely in Rome. Timothy, his son in the faith, is with him. Epaphroditus is a Christian from Philippi sent from the church there to bring a love gift and support to Paul in prison. Paul sends the letter to the Philippians back to them through Epaphroditus, about whom he and we will say more in just a moment.

Concerning Timothy, Paul informs the Philippians that he will send Timothy to them soon, but not now. In verse 19, he alludes that it would be profitable for himself if he sent Timothy because Timothy could presumably bring back to him news of the Philippians and “cheer” him. Then Paul says this:

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.

Paul makes two great assertions here:

1. Timothy has genuine love for the church.
2. In loving the church, Timothy shows that He shares Jesus’ own “interests.”

In Timothy, we find that a true servant of God loves the church like Jesus loves the church.

Let us be clear: Jesus loves the church. When Paul, in Ephesians 5, wanted to encourage husbands to love their wives, he thought of the greatest example he could and wrote:

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Jesus’ love for the church is therefore the singular model for marriage itself. You cannot conceive of a greater model for love than this! So we too should love the church!

Timothy has “genuine concern” for the church. He loves the Philippian Christians specifically and, more generally, the body of Christ at large. In doing this, Timothy distinguished himself from those who only pretend to love the body of Christ but really only love themselves.

When Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, he said:

²⁸ Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

There are those who hate the body of Christ, even as they pretend to love it. In reality, they are false teachers, fierce wolves.

Not so, Timothy. He loved the church. Do you? Do you love the body of Christ?

Francis Chan writes:

On a scale of one to ten, how much do you love the church? As you look around at your brothers and sisters, do you think to yourself, I love these people so much. I pray God empowers me in some way to encourage these people toward a deeper walk with Him?[2]

Good questions, all. Do you love the church? Do you care for the people of this church? Are you genuinely concerned for the effectiveness, the success, the faithfulness, and the well-being of this church? True servants of God are!

A true servant of God faithfully serves in the gospel.

What is more, to be a true servant of God is to serve faithfully in the work and expansion of the gospel. Paul continues:

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.

Jumping to verses 23 and 24, we learn why Paul is not sending Timothy to the Philippians with Epaphroditus. It is because Paul needs Timothy there until they can learn “how it will go with me.” In other words, they need to see if Paul is going to be set free, if Paul is going to continue in prison, or if Paul is going to be killed. Paul will need Timothy with him. Furthermore, Timothy will not be able to give a definitive word on Paul to the Philippians until they learn what is going to happen with him.

But it is in verse 22 that we find the second mark of a true servant of God.

²² But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

Frank Thielman writes, “The phrase ‘proven worth’ interprets a Greek word (dokime) that refers to the ‘character’ of one who has remained faithful despite hardship.”[3] This is the character of Timothy: he has remained faithful in the work of the gospel. He has labored alongside Paul and labors still.

Specifically, Paul writes, “as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.” Scot Mcknight translates verse 22 as “he slaved for the gospel with me as a child with a father.”[4]

In other words, Timothy was personally, deliberately, and unfalteringly engaged in the work of Christ, in the work of the church. For Timothy—and for all true servants of God—the work of the body of Christ was his work, not somebody else’s. He would not sidestep the privilege of service.

This is how it is to be with all of us who claim the name of Christ: joyful, deliberate service. Are you laboring in the work of the gospel or are you waiting for somebody else to do it?

An anonymous author has written:

There’s a clever young fellow named Somebody Else—

There’s nothing this fellow can’t do.

He’s busy from morning ’til late at night

Just substituting for you.

When asked to do this or asked to do that

So often you’re set to reply:

“Get Somebody Else, Mr. Chairman—

He’ll do it much better than I.”

There’s so much to do in our church;

So much, and the workers are few.

And Somebody Else gets weary and worn

Just substituting for you.

So next time you’re asked to do something worthwhile

Come up with this honest reply:

If Somebody Else can give time and support,

It’s obviously true, so can I.[5]

Christian, servants of God love what Jesus loves and do the work that Jesus does. It is an honor to be engaged in gospel work! It is a privilege! It is not for somebody else. It is for us.

A true servant of God is willing to give his or her life for Jesus.

Ultimately, a true servant is willing to give his or her life for Jesus Christ. Now we turn to Epaphroditus, the member of the church of Philippi sent from the church to Paul in prison with a gift of aid and support. Paul sends Epaphroditus back to Philippi bearing the letter that we now read. Paul explains:

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.

What do we know about Epaphroditus? First, Fred Craddock makes the interesting point that “Epaphroditus…was probably a convert from paganism, judging from the fact that he was named for the goddess Aphrodite.”[6] So Epaphroditus had earlier come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. So thorough was his conversion and so sincere was his confession and so faithful was his walk that the church at Philippi saw in him somebody trustworthy enough and faithful enough to carry aid on the long journey from Philippi to Rome. In other words, when the church wanted a representative, they turned to Epaphroditus.

And from Paul we learn a number of things about Epaphroditus’ time with Paul:

1. He successfully brought the church’s gift to Paul.
2. He ministered to Paul in prison.
3. He got very sick, “near to death.”
4. God saved him and, in doing so, also saved Paul from the grief Paul would have felt had Epaphroditus died.
5. Word of his illness had somehow gotten back to Philippi.
6. He was anxious to get back home to Philippi so the church would not worry.

It is moving to hear this personal account from Paul of the journey of Epaphroditus. You can tell Paul loves Epaphroditus and you can tell Paul is being sensitive to both Epaphroditus’ needs and the church’s needs in sending him back.

So Paul will keep Timothy and Paul will send back Epaphroditus.

But then Paul makes a most interesting comment about Epaphroditus’ trial in coming to see him. He encourages the Philippians to receive him back with honor. He writes:

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.

Is this a reference to Epaphroditus’ illness? Or did something else happen? Likely the former, since Paul has already mentioned that Epaphroditus’ illness nearly cost him his life. But Paul’s interpretation of this is telling: “for he nearly diedfor the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”

Epaphroditus, then, was willing to lay down his life for Jesus. He did this by being willing to lay down his life for the work of the church and of the gospel and of the ministry of mercy to the beloved Paul.

To be frank, Epaphroditus showed his willingness to suffer and possibly to die just by virtue of being willing to make the journey to Rome at all. It was no small thing to agree to travel to Rome from Philippi. Richard Melick writes:

            The trip to Rome from Philippi was approximately 800 miles. From Rome, the traveler would follow the Appian Way to Brundisium (360 miles), take a ship across the Adriatic to Dyrrachium (2 days with favorable weather), and follow the Ignatian Way to Philippi (370 miles). Sir William Ramsey estimated that a foot-traveler covered 15-20 miles per day on the Roman roads. That equals 52 days by the slower rate and 39 by the faster.[7]

What an unbelievable level of commitment this demonstrates! Thomas Perowne, in 1887, wrote:

How willingly he accepted, how zealously he discharged the office, how true a representative he was of the Philippians, in the loving and assiduous service which he rendered on their behalf, we gather from the fact this his self-sacrificing exertions well-night cost him his own life.[8]

That is well said. It also raises a most important question: Do we so value the work of Jesus through His church in the world today that we would have volunteered and risked our own lives just as Epaphroditus did to bring aid to Paul in Rome? Would you have undertaken that 800-mile journey?

Let us be frank: Many of us balk at the suggestion of doing much, much less. But a true servant of God is willing to risk his or her life for Jesus. Are you? Am I?

Why was Epaphroditus willing to die for Jesus in carrying out the work of Christ through His church? Because Epaphroditus had already died to himself. When he came to Jesus, he buried all that he used to be and threw in his lot with Jesus completely! Paul will write in Galatians 2:

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

When you truly die to self—when you are truly crucified with Christ—then and only then are you willing to risk your very life in service for Jesus. Why? Because it is no “risk” at all. You already died back there, so death holds no fear for you! You are truly alive to and with Christ!

Paul. Timothy. Epaphroditus, True servants of the king. They are part of what one African believer called “the fellowship of the unashamed.” This African brother put it like this:

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power.

The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and labor by power.

My pace is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road is narrow. My way rough. My companions few.  My guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I’ve stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give ’til I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He’ll have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear.

And let the church say, “Amen!”

 

[1] Hughes, R. Kent and Barbara. Liberating Ministry from The Success Syndrome. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008), p.102.

[2] Chan, Francis. Forgotten God. (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2009), p.86.

[3] Thielman, Frank S. Philippians. (The NIV Application Commentary Book 11) (p. 159). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

[4] McKnight, Scot. The Second Testament. (p. 215). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

[5] http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/questions/theology/spiritualgifts.html

[6] Craddock, Fred B. Philippians. (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (p. 51). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.

[7] Melick, Richard R., Jr. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary. Vol. 32 (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group), p.35.

[8] Perowne, Thomas T. “New Testament Saints no Commemorated: Epaphroditus.” Churchman. 1:5 (February 1887), p.264.