Reverend Michael Mwangi
But I trust in the Lord: This showed Paul’s heart of true reliance upon the Lord. He wanted to see Timothy among the Philippians, but recognized that it would happen God’s way and in God’s timing.
It is important to allow and acknowledge that Gid has the final say in our lives.
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church, Kenya Assemblies of God
It is important to allow and acknowledge that Gid has the final say in our lives.
Proverbs 3:5-6
[5]Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
[6]in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
b. That I also may be encouraged when I know your state: Paul didn’t expect problems from the Philippians, since they were no one of his problematic. churches. Instead, he expected that he would be encouraged when I know your state.
[5]Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
[6]in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
b. That I also may be encouraged when I know your state: Paul didn’t expect problems from the Philippians, since they were no one of his problematic. churches. Instead, he expected that he would be encouraged when I know your state.
i. Contrast this with the attitude Paul conveyed to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 13:2-3. The Corinthian church had much worse problems than the Philippian church had.
Who will sincerely care for your state: When Paul sent Timothy, he sent his best, a man who showed a pastor’s heart and had greater concern for his sheep than for himself.
i. Paul recognized just how rare this kind of heart was when he observed all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
2. (23-24) Paul repeats his desire to come to the Philippians in person, not only to send Timothy to them.
Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
a. I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly: Perhaps Paul was being careful to avoid the accusation, but He clearly told the Philippians that he also wanted to come.
(25-26) Paul writes about Epaphroditus and his coming to the Philippians.
Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
a. I considered it necessary to send to you: This undoubtedly meant that Epaphroditus took this letter to the Philippians. It seems that Epaphroditus came to Paul from the Philippians as a messenger and became sick while he was with Paul.
b. My brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier: Paul gave these important titles to Epaphroditus. He was a man Paul valued as a partner in the work of ministry.
i. There are three special relationships here mentioned:
· Brother speaks of a relationship to be enjoyed.
· Worker speaks of a job to be done.
· Soldier speaks of a battle to be fought.
Your messenger and the one who ministered to my need: This means that Epaphroditus brought a gift of financial support from the Philippians to Paul (Philippians 4:18).
i. Ministered has in it the idea of a priestly service. When Epaphroditus brought the support money from the Philippians to Paul in Rome, he brought a sacrifice.
d. Because you had heard that he was sick: Epaphroditus was concerned because the Philippians learned of his sickness and worried about him. The return of Epaphroditus would give them peace of mind that their valued brother was in good condition.
i. It would also help Epaphroditus because he was longing for you all and was distressed. He greatly longed to see the Philippian Christians.
(27) Epaphroditus’ sickness and his recovery.
For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
a. For indeed he was sick almost unto death: The sickness of Epaphroditus was no small thing; it was almost unto death. Yet God had mercy on him and he recovered.
i. There is nothing in the text to indicate that this was a miraculous healing, but Paul still saw God’s hand of mercy in Epaphroditus’ recovery.
b. Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow: God’s mercy to Epaphroditus was also mercy to Paul. If Epaphroditus had died, Paul would have had sorrow upon sorrow because a valued brother, worker, and soldier for Christ was no longer on this earth. He would also have sorrow upon sorrow because Epaphroditus became sick when he came on behalf of the Philippians to minister to Paul’s material and spiritual needs while Paul was in prison in Rome.
(28-30) Paul’s instructions to the Philippians on how to receive Epaphroditus as he returns to them.
Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
a. I sent him the more eagerly: Paul was eager to re-unite the Philippians with their beloved brother Epaphroditus, and reminded the Philippians to give him proper recognition when he returned (hold such men in esteem).
i. Probably, the Philippians sent Epaphroditus not only as a messenger, but also to be a personal attendant to Paul on behalf of the Philippians. When illness prevented Epaphroditus from doing this, he may have seemed like a failure (perhaps even a malingerer) in the eyes of the Philippians. Paul assured them this was not the case; in fact, it was just the opposite – Epaphroditus served above and beyond the call of duty.
b. Because for the work of Christ he came close to death: It was for the work of Christ that Epaphroditus came close to death. Even though his work was mostly that of being a messenger and not anything particularly spiritual, it was still the work of Christ.
Not regarding his life: The willingness to put the work of Christ first and his own personal safety and concern second displayed the noble heart of Epaphroditus.
i. The ancient Greek phrase not regarding his life uses a gambler’s word that meant to risk everything on the roll of the dice. Paul wrote that for the sake of Jesus Christ, Epaphroditus was willing to gamble everything.
ii. In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women who called themselves the gamblers, taken from this same ancient Greek word used in not regarding his life. It was their aim to visit the prisoners and the sick, especially those who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. Often, when a plague struck a city, the heathen threw the dead bodies into the streets and fled in terror. But the gamblers buried the dead and helped the sick the best they could, and so risked their lives to show the love of Jesus.
iii. “It seems plain from this expression that Epaphroditus’ illness was the consequence not of persecution but of over-exertion.” (Lightfoot)
d. To supply what was lacking in your service toward me: Epaphroditus did this by actually bringing the support that the Philippians gave. There was a lack in all the Philippians’ generosity and good intentions until the gift finally made its way to Paul’s need.
i. We should have the heart that there is something lacking in our service until the job is done. We should not be satisfied with good intentions or a half-done job.
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