Philippians 2:19-24; Timothy, An Others Centered Life ~ 20240225 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
02/25 Philippians 2:19-24; Timothy, An Others Centered Life; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20240225_philippians-2_19-24.mp3
Timothy An Illustration of An Others’ Centered Life
Paul has exhorted the Philippians to gospel shaped unity. He has held up the pattern of our Lord Jesus, who humbled himself to sacrificially serve others. He again exhorted them to work out God’s salvation in their own lives in ways that take the shape of gospel unity. He pointed to his own joy in being poured out for others.
Now in 2:19, he seems to switch gears and give them information about two individuals, Timothy and Epaphroditus, and information about his plans for the future, his hope to send Timothy to them soon, his own hope to visit them personally, and an explanation of his immediate sending of Epaphroditus back to them. We might be tempted to breeze past this section as a dated and irrelevant piece of antiquity. But when we look beneath the surface, we see that he is continuing to encourage them toward joyfully serving others in a way that knits us together in gospel unity.
If we extend our outline of the passage we see this clearly:
1:27 - 2:4 exhortation to gospel unity
2:5-11 motivation of Jesus’ humility that brings glory to God
2:12-16 exhortation to work out your gospel unity
2:17-18 motivation of Paul’s joy in sacrifice for others
2:19-24 motivation of Timothy’s selfless concern for others
2:25-29 motivation of Epaphroditus’ risk in service to others
Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus are all held up as illustrations of Christlike joyful sacrificial service to others.
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.
All My Hope Is In The Lord Jesus
Paul frames this section with his confidence in the Lord Jesus. In verse 19 he says ‘I hope in the Lord Jesus’, and in verse 24 he says ‘I am confident in the Lord’. Paul’s hope, Paul’s confidence is in Jesus. He is living his life in dependence on, trusting in the Lord Jesus. He is living by faith in the Son of God. His whole life, all his plans, his every hope, all of it is placed under and subject to the sovereign lordship of Jesus. Jesus who emptied himself, humbled himself, Jesus who is now highly exalted by his Father as Lord over all, to whom every being in the universe is ultimately subject. Paul has plans, has purposes, has desires, but all of that is gladly submitted to the sovereign purposes of his Lord Jesus.
Back in chapter 1 he outlined his confidence in Jesus and his own conflicted desires;
Philippians 1:19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. 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, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 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,
Paul makes plans, but he is willing to allow Jesus to change and disrupt those plans for his greater glory. Remember in Acts 16,
Acts 16:6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. ...9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
This is the sovereign interference that brought them to Macedonia, to Philippi in the first place. Paul weights his options, makes his plans, and moves in that direction, all with an open hand, allowing Jesus to direct (or re-direct) his steps. Remember, Paul is a prisoner, likely in Rome, but ultimately he is a prisoner of the Lord Jesus (1:13), bound to serve him.
Others Centered Joy
Paul’s purpose for sending Timothy is to find joy in the things concerning them;
Philippians 2:19 ...so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
He is interested in them, specifically in their progress in the gospel. As he said in chapter 1, he is eager to
Philippians 1:27 ...hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Their gospel unity will bring peace to his soul. It is Paul’s joy to be poured out on the sacrifice of their faith, and he invites them to rejoice with him. There is an undercurrent of joy in sacrificial service in this pasage; it matters how you serve, with what attitude you serve; not with grumbling and disputing. This is others centered joy. Paul is concerned about them, praying for them, interested to hear about them.
Timothy’s Driving Passion; Of Equal-Soul
Why Timothy? ‘For I have no one like him’. The word Paul uses to describe Timothy is literally, ‘equal-souled’ [ἰσόψυχον]. The soul refers to the inner life, the inner person, we might say the driving passion, the heart and mind. In 1:27 he called them to be of one mind (μιᾷ ψυχῇ; literally with one soul) striving side by side for the faith of the gospel; they were to have a unified driving passion to advance the good news of Jesus. In 2:2 he exhorts them to think the same, have the same love, be fellow-souled [σύμψυχοι] and think the one thing. They are to have a common soul, a common driving passion. In 2:19 Paul intends to send Timothy to them in order that he might be cheered [εὐψυχῶ], literally ‘good-souled’ by what he hears about them. If he hears that they are striving for the gospel with one soul, having a common soul or passion for the main thing, then it will be well with his soul.
Here in 2:20 he says of Timothy that there is no one ‘of equal soul’ [ἰσόψυχον]; with the same driving passion as him.
Genuine Anxiety For Others
What makes Timothy so unique? What is his driving passion?
Philippians 2:20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned [μεριμνήσει] for your welfare [τα περι υμων].
Timothy had genuine care and concern for the things of the Philippian church. This was Paul’s heart; knowing the things of this church would put his soul at peace. The word used to describe Timothy’s concern is the word most often translated ‘anxiety or worry’. Jesus warns us clearly against anxiety about our own stuff, what we will eat, what we will wear, coloring our hair, even if we will live or die (cf. Mat.6:25-34; Lk.10:41; 12:11-26). Jesus compares anxiety to life choking thorns that prevent fruitfulness (Mt.13:22). Paul commands the Philippians (4:6) ‘Do not be anxious about anything’.
But this anxiety word can be used in a positive way of deep care for the things of another. Paul teaches about gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 that are to be used not for selfish advantage, but to build others up;
1 Corinthians 12:25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Paul lists the afflictions he endured as an apostle;
2 Corinthians 11:28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Paul looks at Timothy’s genuine anxiety not for himself, but for the heath of this church as a deep and healthy care and concern, born out of love for the other. Timothy’s motivating passion was to see this church thrive, and Paul says ‘there is no one like him.’
Seeking Your Own Things Or The Things Of Others?
Philippians 2:20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare [τα περι υμων]. 21 For they all seek their own interests [τα εαυτων], not those [τα] of Jesus Christ.
Timothy’s care is for ‘the things that have to do with you’. This is the same phrase that Paul used when he wanted to hear of ‘the things that have to do with you’ in 1:27 and in 2:19 when he expected to be cheered by knowing ‘the things that have to do with you’.
The norm for sinful fallen humanity is ‘seeking the things that have to do with oneself’, and that is the natural tendency even for followers of Jesus. This is why Paul exhorts them;
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves [εαυτων]. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests [τα εαυτων], but also to the interests of others [τα ετερων].
This is why he holds up Jesus, who
Philippians 2:7 but emptied himself [εαυτον], by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself [εαυτον] by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
We naturally seek our own interests, the things that have to do with me. We need the Spirit of God to turn our ingrown focus outward, to give us genuine care and concern for the things of others; ultimately for the things of Jesus Christ.
This keeps us on track. Care and concern for the things of others is not just submitting to the desires and whims of others, not giving up our own things to help others in their self-seeking concern for their own things. Those who seek their own things are contrasted with those who seek the things of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ driving passion is for the glory of his Father, and the Father seeks to glorify his Son. What are the things of Jesus Christ?
Ephesians 5:2 ...Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ...25 ...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Christ is passionately pursuing the welfare of his bride, the church; the purity of his church, the beauty and splendor of his church. Timothy was aligning himself with Jesus in pursuing the glorious gospel shaped beauty of the church. Timothy was genuinely seeking to advance the interests of Jesus Christ, not his own.
Mentoring Timothy
Acts 14 records Paul’s first visit to Lystra, where he was stoned and left for dead by the Jews, but made many disciples, among whom was likely young Timothy. In Acts 16 Paul invited the highly recommended Timothy to accompany him on the rest of his journeys, during which he was trusted with multiple errands for the apostle. Timothy is mentioned in 7 of Paul’s letters to churches, likely delivering some of these letters as delegate of the apostle. Timothy would have visited Philippi in Macedonia several times over these years. Paul later wrote 2 personal letters to Timothy to encourage him in his service to the church in Ephesus. He said:
2 Timothy 3:10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. ... 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
Gospel Service
Timothy followed Paul as Paul followed Jesus.
Philippians 2:22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
The Philippian church was well acquainted with Timothy’s proven character. They had been recipients of his ministry and had opportunity to observe him, from the first time Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke came to Philippi, and over the next ten plus years.
Paul refers to Timothy as ‘my fellow worker’ (Rom.16:21); ‘my beloved and faithful child in the Lord’ (1Cor.4:17; 2:Tim.1:2); ‘our brother’ (2Cor.1:1; Col.1:1); ‘God’s coworker in the gospel’ (1Thes.3:2); ‘my true child in the faith’ (1Tim.1:2). Here he likens Timothy’s relationship to him ‘as a child to his father’ and he says he served (literally slaved). We might expect Paul to say ‘he served me’, but instead Paul says ‘he served with me’. Together Paul and Timothy served the gospel. Together they did what they did to advance the good news of Jesus. All Christian service is serving in the gospel; no doubt this includes evangelism; proclaiming the gospel to unbelievers; but it also includes encouraging believers to grow in congruence to the gospel, to live gospel shaped lives.
Confident Hope
Philippians 2:23 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 reiterates the hope he began with; On the one hand, he hopes to send Timothy soon, as soon as I look to the things that have to do with me. Paul is sending Epaphroditus back to the Philippians, but he is in need of Timothy’s service for a time. On the other hand, he is confident in the Lord that he himself will quickly come. Paul has used this word ‘confident’ or ‘persuaded’ in 1:25, where he stated his confidence that he would remain ‘for your progress and joy in the faith’. In 1:6 he said ‘I am sure (confident) of this, that
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure (confident) of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Paul hopes in the Lord to send Timothy quickly. Paul is confident in the Lord that he himself will quickly come. Paul uses hope and confidence in parallel, because biblical hope is not wishful thinking; it is a settled confidence based on the character of God and his word.
Are we those who look only to our own interests, or is our primary passion the interest of Jesus and the gospel?
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2024.01.25 Sermon Notes
Philippians 2:19-24; Timothy, An Others Centered Life
1:27 - 2:4 exhortation to gospel unity
2:5-11 motivation of Jesus’ humility that brings glory to God
2:12-16 exhortation to work out your gospel unity
2:17-18 motivation of Paul’s joy in sacrifice for others
2:19-24 motivation of Timothy’s selfless concern for others
2:25-29 motivation of Epaphroditus’ risk in service to others
All my hope is in the Lord Jesus
Philippians 2:19, 24
Paul makes plans, allowing Jesus to (re)direct
Acts 16:6-10
Paul’s joy is others centered
Philippians 1:27; 2:17-19
Timothy’s driving passion
Philippians 1:27 - one soul; 2:2 - fellow-souled
Philippians 2:19 - of good soul; 2:20 - of equal soul
-Genuine anxiety for others
bad anxiety: Matthew 6:25-34; 13:22; Philippians 4:6
good anxiety: 1 Corinthians 12:25; 2 Corinthians 11:28
-Seeking your own things or the things of others?
Philippians 1:27; 2:3-4, 7-8, 19-21
-Seek the things of Jesus Christ
Ephesians 5:2, 25-27
Timothy’s proven character
Acts 16:1-4; 17:13-15; 18:5; 19:22; 2 Timothy 3:10-14
-proclaiming the gospel to unbelievers and believers
Romans 16:21; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philippians 2:22
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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org