Last week, we looked at how Paul urged the Philippians to share Jesus’ mindset, so that their “life as citizens should be consistent with the good news about the Messiah” (Phil. 1:27). Which brings us to this passage: two stories about Timothy and Epaphroditus, because both are examples of people living out Jesus’ story.
Paul begins with his plans. Though he is in prison and could be executed any day, Paul cannot help thinking about the gospel. It is a down-to-earth, chatty part of the letter, written to dear friends.
Do you have role models? We all need people we admire, people whose lives help shape ours. A good role model can be a powerful force for good.
Our culture offers plenty of role models, often celebrities in music, sport, or acting. But many are distant from us, and not always examples where it matters most. We need role models closer to home: people living faithfully, whose lives help us learn.
Last week Paul gave us Christ as our role model. And of course Jesus is perfect — but that can feel like the problem. He is perfect! How could I ever be like him? God does call us to be like Christ, and helps us by his Holy Spirit. But here Paul gives us two nearer examples: Timothy and Epaphroditus, ordinary men with ordinary weaknesses, yet excellent examples of Christ-like service.
We have three things to aspire to, three warnings to note, and finally a commendation from Paul.
First, Timothy. This letter comes from Paul and Timothy together. Paul now presents Timothy as a role model because he is a great example of an unselfish servant. There are three things to notice.
- Take a genuine interest in others.
- Put Christ’s interests first.
- Prove yourself in your work for Christ.
Paul writes, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon.” Paul makes plans in Christ and under Christ. “I hope in the Lord” means, in effect, “if the Lord wills.” We should plan prayerfully, while leaving the outcome with God.
Why Timothy? Paul says, “I have no one else like him who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” Paul had many good co-workers, but Timothy was special. “Like him” carries the idea of like-mindedness. Timothy shared Paul’s gospel purpose and love for the Philippians. Timothy was not serving merely from duty or ticking off a task. He took a genuine interest in them.
That word “concern” is used elsewhere by Paul for his daily pressure of concern for the churches. It is also related to the word used later in Philippians 4, where we are told not to worry. So there is a fine line between worry and concern. We are to care deeply for others, but then cast those cares on the Lord, so that concern does not become anxiety.
Secondly Put Christ’s interest first
Verse 21 says, “For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” Paul is not attacking all his co-workers; he is making a general observation. Most people, if we are honest, look first to their own interests. Timothy was different. His first concern was what mattered to his Lord. He had the spirit of John the Baptist: “He must become greater; I must become less.” For Timothy, it was all about Jesus and what served Jesus’ interests.
It is right to take a genuine interest in others, but we must still put Christ first. We serve Christ by serving others, but we serve Christ first. Only then can we help people truly.
Thirdly – Prove yourself in your work for Christ
Verses 22-24 say that Timothy had “proved himself,” serving with Paul in the work of the gospel as a son with his father. This speaks of perseverance and consistency. Notice Paul does not say, “Timothy served me,” but “Timothy served with me.” They were partners in the gospel, both servants of Jesus Christ.
Have you proved yourself in your work for Christ? Are you consistent in your walk with the Lord? Can people count on you in the body of Christ? They could with Timothy, and Paul could confidently send him to Philippi.
This is not a competition to prove yourself better than the person next to you. It is a standard to grow towards. Will we be greeted with, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? How are we showing faithfulness, perseverance, and consistency in our work for the Lord, and in our relationships with one another?
Notice Paul is full of hope and confidence even though he is in prison. And why is that? It’s because of the Lord. He is “confident in the Lord,” and so he has hope and confidence even in the midst of uncertainty.
So Timothy showed genuine concern, put Christ’s interests first, and proved himself in gospel service. But before Paul could send Timothy, he needed to send someone else ahead with the letter: Epaphroditus. Whereas Timothy is a great example of an unselfish servant, Epaphroditus is a great example of a suffering servant.
Epaphroditus was one of the Philippians. They had sent him perhaps 800 miles to bring Paul a gift and help him in prison. But now Paul wants to send him back, because the church had heard of his life-threatening illness, and Epaphroditus longed to reassure them.
We know little else about him. Unlike Timothy, he appears nowhere else in the New Testament. But Paul’s few words reveal a man willing to risk his life for Christ, who suffered in service, yet thought first of others.
There are four things we can especially learn from Epaphroditus’ example.
- Ministry does not exempt you from suffering.
- Ministry increases your burdens along with your joys.
- Ministry involves risk.
- We should honour those who give their lives in ministry to others.
Ministry does not exempt you from suffering (25-26)
Paul calls Epaphroditus his brother, co-worker, fellow soldier, messenger, and minister to his needs. He says Epaphroditus was ill and almost died, but God had mercy on him — and on Paul too, sparing him sorrow upon sorrow.
Epaphroditus had risked his life in Christ’s service and had suffered, nearly dying. His example reminds us that serving the Lord does not make us immune to hardship.
Sometimes we imagine that if we serve the Lord, everything will go smoothly: no financial difficulty, illness, or tragedy. But that is not what God promised, and it has never been the experience of Christ’s servants. History is full of believers who served Christ and faced obstacles, sickness, loss, and even death. Yet in the worst of these situations we also see endurance, faithfulness, and God’s mercy sustaining his people.
Paul even calls Epaphroditus a “fellow soldier.” We may be cautious about military language today, but Paul sees him as a companion on the spiritual battlefield: loyal, enduring, and sharing the wounds of gospel service.
Ministry increases your burdens along with your joys (27-28)
Before verses 27-28, notice verse 26: “He longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.” That word “distressed” is used of Jesus’ anguish in Gethsemane. Epaphroditus, instead of dwelling on his own suffering, was troubled because his friends were worried about him. No wonder Paul urges them to honour him.
Ministry increases your burdens along with your joys. Epaphroditus was ill and nearly died, but God had mercy on him. Paul says this mercy was also shown to him, because losing Epaphroditus would have brought sorrow upon sorrow. Serving Christ is full of many amazing joys. And yet there are many burdens that come too.
Ministry involves risk (30)
Verse 30 says Epaphroditus “almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.” The Philippians could not all go to Paul, but they could send one man. Epaphroditus went, and he completed his mission at great risk.
Serving Christ involves risk: personal risk when we speak of the gospel, financial risk when we give, family risk when we trust God with our needs. We are safe in God’s hands, but from a human standpoint the risk is real. So why do it? Because it is worth it. When we suffer for Jesus and the gospel, we show that there is no greater purpose and no greater work than serving Christ.
Jesus was obedient to death. Epaphroditus was obedient to the very point of death. He risked his life for the gospel. Serving Christ involves risk.
Honor those who give their lives in ministry to others (29)
Finally, we should honour those who give their lives in ministry to others. Paul says, “Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him.” Epaphroditus had almost died for the work of Christ. The whole church could not travel to Paul, but he could — and he did.
Paul tells them: welcome him gladly, rejoice over him, and honour him. Welcome those prepared to put their lives on the line for Christ and celebrate them. But do not leave service only to them. Join them, serve with them, and share the joy of serving Christ.
Two role models: Timothy and Epaphroditus.
As we think about these two men, notice what Paul does not emphasise. He says little about their gifts, abilities, preaching, evangelism, leadership, or achievements. What matters is the character of Christ seen in them: their commitment to serving Christ and their love for God’s people.
That is a tremendous encouragement. In Christ’s kingdom, what matters most is not how gifted we are, but how we live for him: our character, our Christ-like attitude, our desire to serve him and one another.
So as we consider Timothy, Epaphroditus, and others who inspire us by their Christ-like character, be encouraged. We too can become role models of Christian service, because the same Holy Spirit is at work in us, making us more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ.