Philippians Chapter IIc

Translation: The Orthodox New Testament, Vol. II, Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista CO., 1999

19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy quickly to you, that I also may be of good courage, after I come to know the things concerning you.

1. The care of a Father for his community

“…which is a proof of excessive care: for when he could not himself be with them, he sent his disciples, as he could not endure to remain, even for a little time, in ignorance of their state. ..For his love was manifested … in his desire to learn of their state; for this is the part of a soul which has a care of others, which takes thought for them, which is always wrestling for them. (Chrysostom, Homily IX, On Philippians)”

20 For I have no one like-minded, who genuinely will care for the things concerning you.

1. Timothy is a true “spiritual son of Paul”

At the same time too, he honors them by sending Timothy. . .Because ‘I have no one likeminded;’ that is, none of those whose care is like mine, none who ‘genuinely will care for the things concerning you.’ Had he then no one of those who were with him? No one likeminded, that is, who has yearnings and takes thought for you as I do. No one would lightly choose, he means, to make so long a journey for this purpose. Timothy is the one with me who loves you. For I might have sent others, but there was none like him. This then is that like-mindedness, to love the disciples as the master loves them. ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will truly care for you,’ that is, as a father. (Chrysostom, Homily IX, On Philippians)”

21 For all seek their own things, not the things of Christ Jesus.

1. There is no discipleship without hardship

“…their own comfort, their own safety. . . But why does he lament such things as these? To teach us his hearers not to fall in like sort, to teach his hearers not to seek for remission from toil; for he who seeks remission from toil, seeks not the things that are Christ's, but his own. We ought to be prepared against every toil, against every distress. (Chrysostom, Homily IX, On Philippians)”

22 But you know the proof of him, that, as a child to a father, he served with me in regard to the Gospel. 23 This one indeed therefore I hope to send at once, whensoever I shall have in view the things concerning me; 24 but I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come quickly. 25 And I deemed it necessary to send to you Epiphroditos the brother and my fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, but your apostle, and minister of my need, 26 since he was longing for you all and was sorely troubled because you heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick coming 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.

1. Would not it have been better for him to die?

“Here it is written, that God's mercy retained and brought back again him who was on the point of departure. And yet if the world is evil, it is no mercy to leave a man in the evil. ..what shall we say to the Christian? … for he had to speak to men of the world who still feared death. Then he shows how he esteemed Epaphroditus, and thence he gets for him respect, by saying, that his preservation was so useful to himself (Paul), that the mercy which had been shown to Epaphroditus reached him also. (Chrysostom, Homily IX, On Philippians).”

28 I am sending him therefore the more quickly, so that, having seen him again, you might rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.

1. Life is good

“…for we rejoice not on hearing of the health of those we love, so much as when we see them, and chiefly so when this happens contrary to hope, as it was in the case of Epaphroditus.” (Chrysostom, Homily IX, On Philippians).”

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor;

1. Greater profit is given to the doer of good than the one who receives

“Receive him in a manner worthy of saints, as saints should be received with all joy. All this he does for their sakes, not for that of his messengers, for greater gain has the doer than the receiver of a good deed. "And such hold in honor," that is, receive him in a manner worthy of saints. (Chrysostom, Homily IX, On Philippians).”

30 because for the sake of the work of the Christ he came near even to death, hazarding his life, in order that he might fill up the deficiency of your service toward me.

1. No fear in joining a missionary

“It is probable then, that on his arrival at the city of Rome, he found Paul in great and urgent peril, so that those who were accustomed to resort to him were unable safely to do so, but were themselves in peril by their very attendance… and that Epaphroditus, being of a noble nature, despised all danger, that he might go in unto him, and minister unto him, and do everything which need required. (Chrysostom, Homily IX, On Philippians).”

2. The Philippians shared in his sacrificed and were to be honored for sending him

“He therefore sets forth two facts, by which he gains for him their respect; the one, that he was in jeopardy well nigh unto death, he says, for my sake; the other, that in so suffering he was representing their city, so that the recompense for that his peril would be accounted to those who sent him, as if the city had sent him as their ambassador, so that a kind reception of him and approval of what he had done may rather be called a participation in the things that he had dared… the city was not present, but by sending him, it fulfilled through him all service toward me. (Chrysostom, Homily IX, On Philippians).”

On Supplying urgent necessity of missionary work

For we owe the saints (missionaries) a debt, and are not doing them a favor. For as supplies are due by those who are in peace and not engaged in war to such as stand in the army and fight thus too is it here. For if Paul had not taught, who would have cast him into prison? Wherefore we ought to minister to the Saints (Missionaries). For is it not absurd to contribute to an earthly king, when engaged in war, all that he wants, as clothing and food, but abundantly, while to the King of Heaven, when engaged in war, and contending against far more bitter foes (for it is written, ‘our wrestling is not against flesh and blood (Eph. vi. 12)’, we will not supply urgent necessity? What folly is this! What ingratitude! What base love of gain!