Gleanings of Grace

19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be in good spirits when I learn of your circumstances. 20  For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned about your circumstances. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I evaluate my own circumstances, 24 and I am confident in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. 25 But I regarded it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; 26 because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned. 29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to fulfill what was lacking in your service to me.

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The previous passages tell of Paul’s joy in pouring his life as a drink offering for the service and sacrifice of the Philippian believers. He poured his life out so they, likewise, could pour themselves out for God’s kingdom. In doing so, his joy ran deep, knowing he had not labored nor run in vain.  

Stemming from this same joy, Paul then sends two faithful workers–Timothy and Epaphroditus.

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Paul Sends Timothy

“But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly…” (v. 19)

The Greek word πέμπω (pémpō), translated “to send,” carries the idea of dispatching someone for a purpose. Paul was not merely sending Timothy away; he was entrusting him with a ministry assignment for the benefit of the Philippian church.

For I have no one else of kindred spirit… (v. 20)

Kindred spirit ἰσόψυχος (isópsychos) means of “equal-souled” or “of the same spirit.” In saying this, Paul highlighted how Timothy was like-minded with him, genuinely concerned for the growth and faith of the Philippian believers. 

Timothy must have stood out among Paul’s companions, for he said, “ I have no one else…” before adding, “For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.” 

After the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas, Paul continued his missionary journeys with Silas (Acts 15:39-40). When they arrived in Derbe and Lystra, they met Timothy–a son of a Jewish woman. Though his father was Greek, Timothy had already gained a good reputation among the brothers in Lystra and Iconium (Acts 16:1–2). 

Paul then recruited Timothy to join their mission team and circumcised him—not because it was sinful to remain uncircumcised, but because they would be ministering among Jews and sought to avoid unnecessary offense (Acts 16:3).

From that point onward, Timothy labored alongside Paul for the Gospel like a child serving his father.

This stands in contrast to a hired worker laboring for wages. Paul and Timothy shared a familial bond. They were not counting hours or measuring output for compensation, but devoting their whole lives to the cause of Christ. 

This eventually earned Timothy commendation from Paul for his proven worth δοκιμή (dokimḗ), a word that carries the idea of tested and approved character. 

Proclaiming Christ in such a hostile environment involved persecution, uncertainty and suffering. Through it all, Timothy was found faithful. And so, Paul commends him and hopes to send him immediately. 

There is so much to glean from Timothy’s example, which leads me to ask:

“What permissible things am I willing to give up for the sake of the Gospel?“

“Am I serving God and His church like a child serving his father?“

“Through all the tests in ministry and work, would I be found faithful to the cause of Christ?“

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Paul Sends Epaphroditus

Next, Paul sends Epaphroditus back to them. 

To him, this was necessary. 

The word necessary (ἀναγκαῖος, anankaîos) carries the idea of what’s required by the condition of things. This was the same word Paul used when he said, “yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” 

Just as Paul regarded it necessary to remain in fruitful labor for the benefit of the Philippian believers, he also regarded it necessary to send Epaphroditus back to them.

Epaphroditus belonged to the Philippian church. He was their messenger, tasked with delivering gifts to Paul in Rome. Though he may have seemed “just” a messenger, Paul calls him his brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier. 

For the Apostle Paul to use such language, Epaphroditus must have done far more than simply deliver a package. I may not know all the details, but it is evident that he labored alongside Paul, devoting himself to the work of Christ to the point of being severely ill. 

And it was not merely a common sickness.

He nearly died.

Thus, Epaphroditus–though seemingly insignificant–risked his life for God’s kingdom. 

Paul therefore commends him and instructs the church to receive him with joy and hold men like him in high regard.

In reflecting on the life of Epaphroditus, I find myself asking:

“How is my heart toward menial tasks?”

“Am I merely concerned with completing the tasks, or do I recognize that even small tasks have a purpose in God’s kingdom?”

“Would I willingly risk my health and even my life for the Gospel?”

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After reading these passages, I cannot help but reflect on the heart of Paul and compare it with mine.

Paul could have held on to Timothy and Epaphroditus. 

After all, he had mentored Timothy into the man he had become. Timothy was like a son to him. 

Likewise, Epaphroditus had been sent by the Philippian church to minister to Paul’s needs in Rome. Paul would have benefited by keeping both men close. 

But instead, he held them loosely and sent them especially when it served a greater purpose. Worth noting, he sought to send them immediately and eagerly, leaving no room for unnecessary delay.

I’ve had casual conversations with missionary friends who see the Philippines as a temporary assignment before returning to their home countries.

I once told one of them:

“I’ll be sad to see you leave. But knowing it’s for the Gospel reminds me why we’re here in the first place—to glorify God by advancing His kingdom.”

But truth be told, I still struggle with the thought of parting with close friends whom God is calling to a different season of ministry. 

Silently, my thoughts can be, 

“Why can’t we just stick together?”

“Why do you have to leave?” 

It can be painful to watch people move into new seasons and be left with memories of what once was.

On a more personal note, I struggle with the thought of being separated from Mama. Her steadfast presence has carried me through different seasons of life. 

At one point, she mentioned traveling, and my immediate response was, 

“So who will cook food for me?” 

“Who would wash the laundry?”

“Who would walk Kyla  in the morning?” 

Such selfish self-talk, right? 

It’s one thing to let go of people for the Gospel. 

It’s another thing to let go of people at the expense of my comfort. 

Yet this is the kind of selflessness we see throughout this passage—first in Christ, then in Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. This is the kind of seflessness I am called to emulate. 

May I have a heart that holds people loosely as God brings them into my life and leads them elsewhere. 

May I rejoice when He calls them into different seasons and different places, knowing that their work for the Gospel glorifies Him and encourages me to remain faithful to the work He has entrusted to me as well.