Summer Sermon Series Week 6

Philippians 2 19-30:

Timothy and Epaphroditus

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. 20I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me; 24and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.25 Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and co-worker and fellow-soldier, your messenger and minister to my need; 26for he has been longing for all of you, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people, 30because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.
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When you search for “Timothy” in the online Bible noted above, you find him named 29 times:

• 7 times in the book of Acts, chs. 16:1-20:4.
• 7 times in the two letters Paul wrote directly to him, 1&2 Timothy
• 15 times in letters Paul writes to other churches, mentioning Timothy as a partner in ministry.

Sometimes Timothy is with Paul, co-writing a letter (2 Cor, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, Philemon). But very often, Timothy is on the road. In Acts, when he wasn’t traveling with Paul, Timothy was often left behind or sent ahead to serve one of the churches. Later, Paul sends him to the Corinthians (1 Cor 4:17; 16:10) and the Thessalonians (1Thess 3:2,6), so this anticipated visit to the Philippians follows a well established pattern. Paul trusts Timothy to be his representative in places Paul cares deeply about.

The question is, why? What does Paul affirm about Timothy in this letter to the Philippians? (and/or any of the other texts you have time to read?) Is there a way in which those attributes speak to you? Do they describe someone you know? Challenge you? Encourage you? (After being in Germany last month, then camping in Canada, I’m particularly amazed at Timothy’s good character throughout all of that travel! SH)

In contrast to Timothy, we hear of Epaphroditus only in the book of Philippians (here and in 4:18). He is a local man sent by that church to deliver gifts and greetings to the imprisoned Paul. He is now returning home, carrying this letter back to them.

• How does Paul speak of Epaphroditus?
• What does he affirm?
• How does he want the Philippians to receive him?

“Paul realizes that the Christian church is...a fellowship in which people need to appreciate and honor each other. It is a matter of following the extravagant role model of the Lord of the Church who washed the feet of his disciples. Paul understands...that Christians need to find ways to offer each other the extravagant friendship that makes each person feel their importance and their treasured value to us.” (Earl Palmer, Integrity in a World of Pretense, IVP, 1992. Reprinted as Integrity, A Commentary on the Book of Philippians, Regent Publishing (2000) ISBN: 1573831816. )

This text is just a little snapshot of Christian friendship. As you read it, what is God’s word of grace and truth to you?