Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. Sermons
I. HIS OBJECT IN SENDING TIMOTHY. It was twofold. 1. To comfort his own heart. "That I also may be of good heart, when I know your state." The apostle had a tender anxiety respecting the best beloved of all the Churches. 2. To give them guidance for Timothy was one who would "naturally care for their state" with an almost instinctive devotion to their interests. II. HIS REASON FOR SENDING TIMOTHY IN PREFERENCE TO ANY OTHER. 1. They already known Timothy's devotion to the apostle and to the gospel of Christ. "But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel." When the apostle was at Philippi, Timothy - "mine own son in the faith" - was his congenial assistant, obeying his counsel, and imitating his example, in everything that tended to the edification of the Church. 2. There was no other helper with the apostle at the time possessed of the same quick sympathy with their state as Timothy. "For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state: for they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ." (1) The apostle contrasts Timothy with other preachers or evangelists, who sought their own advantage rather than the honor of Christ. He had had sad experience of alienation, halfheartedness, and selfishness in the very circle of the evangelistic companionship. A man's own things may be different from the things of Christ. The highest life is where our interests are identical with the interests of Christ. God will disappoint all other interests. (2) He commends the anxious concern of Timothy on their behalf. (a) It was a concern for their spiritual state. (b) It was, as the word imports, an anxious care on their behalf, testifying at once to his own personal interest in their welfare and to his profound appreciation of the worth of immortal souls. (c) It was a concern natural to one inheriting the interests and the affections of his spiritual father. (d) It was implanted in his soul by the Lord himself; for it was with him as with Titus; "Thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus" (2 Corinthians 8:16). - T.C.
I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly I.II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. (J. Lyth, D. D.) The solicitude of the apostle was evinced —I. BY WHAT HE HOPES TO DO. 1. To send Timothy. (1) (2) (3) 2. To visit them himself. This is contingent (1) (2) II. BY WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE in sending Epaphroditus to them. Paul sent them their own messenger. 1. A man of the highest worth. 2. For his (Epaphroditus') improvement: he had been sick, and greatly longed to see them. 3. For their joy at his return with tidings of a mission successfully accomplished (and as the bearer of this Epistle). 4. For his (Paul's) own comfort therein. III. And BY WHAT HE HOPES WILL BE THEIR CONDUCT toward Epaphroditus. 1. To receive him in the Lord with all gladness. 2. To hold him in reputation, i.e., honour him. 3. Because his accomplished mission showed him to be worthy of all. IV. FIVE REFLECTIONS. 1. Well wishers are to be determined and judged by their ability to perform. 2. We ought to think of the comfort of others as well as of our own. 3. Faithful ministers are worthy of esteem and honour, and especially missionaries. 4. A self-sacrificing spirit is the highest and loveliest trait of character that man can reach and possess. 5. Epaphroditus, through the loveliness of his character (he had not been misnamed), his courage, consistency, zeal, and unselfishness, in six verses of an epistle (his only mention) acquires an immortality of fame that a Caesar might covet. Goodness is true greatness, and exalts its possessor to the stars. (L. O. Thompson.) I. PAUL is the chief figure in the group.1. lie is a prisoner, hoping and strongly expecting to be free, but not so sure whether his liberty will lead him out again on earth or usher him into heaven. Still his hope is that before long he will be with his friends. Meantime has come a messenger from Philippi with help and messages of affection. He desires not simply to send an acknowledgment — any messenger could take that — but to send some one who would help them in the highest sense. 2. Here in Rome are a number of persons who in general capability are quite equal to the service, and we can imagine the question put to them as they came to Saul's lodging — "Will you go to Philippi? It is of great consequence that evils should be checked and that spiritual knowledge and strength should be increased. Will you go? "No," says one. "The journey is hard and perilous, and success uncertain." "No," says another. "Not that I have any fear, but I prefer Rome. I can be as useful here as at Philippi." "No," says a third. "I prefer home." And so the chain is heavier on Paul's wrist, as he writes, "All seek their own," etc. 3. This, then, is the dark group we have to look at first. They are unnamed, happily. The term "all," is limited to those who were asked, and it is a verdict not on character but; in relation to one point of duty. But the failure was a great one. It cannot be a light thing for a Christian to thus shrink from duty, and to fall by our own choice from the highest and best service. Each of us has some Philippi. It may be some ordinary place or plain service, but whatever tests purity of motive and strength of principle is as great as an apostolic mission. The essence of New Testament teaching is life in Christ and for men. To the uttermost He saves; to the uttermost we are to serve. II. Here is TIMOTHY; he will go. There is no man minded like him. He is Paul's other self. You go into a gallery of pictures, and they are all good in some way; but perhaps out of many hundreds only two or three approach the highest mark. So every Christian has the light of God on him, but how few shine with unwavering lustre: ready for every call of duty. Some lines in this picture are worthy of note. 1. Timothy has grown into this perfectness from his youth. No moral excellence is achieved suddenly. If you want to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ you must enter the service early. If you want to be fit for anything to which God may call you, begin at once and work your way up. When you are ready the call will come. 2. Another line is obedience. A good many years have passed since Paul found him at Derbe, but he has been "serving" all the time. No doubt before now he has been master to many, but he has never ceased to be a servant. Leave it to others to command, speculate, dispute in the gospel, or even to rest in it and enjoy it. A nobler and more fruitful use is to serve in it. 3. Another line is sonship. This relation is more than once referred to. "I have no man who will naturally," i.e., as a birthright. III. The third figure is EPAPHRODITUS, pastor of the Philippian Church, bearer of a precious gift, brother, companion, fellow soldier. 1. He gave himself to the work in Rome with such eagerness that his health was undermined. The apostle could smite a sorcerer and heal the father of Publius, but he could not raise up a dear fellow labourer. Miracle power was for public uses, not private satisfactions. Those who preach the cross must bear it. 2. At length, after many fears and prayers, danger passes away. With convalescence came homesickness and a desire to relieve the anxiety of friends. Conclusion: We have been in good company. Imagination may depict the scene in Paul's chamber; but revelation has given us the moral portraiture.The lessons we may learn in such society are — 1. The importance of a sincere and thorough self-denial in the Christian character. 2. The exceeding beauty of a consecrated life. 3. The use and value of suffering. (A. Raleigh, D. D.) exhibits —I. THE MISSIONARY PRINCIPLE. 1. Trust in Christ. 2. A concern for the condition of others. II. THE KIND OF AGENCY TO BE EMPLOYED. 1. Earnest. 2. Unselfish. 3. Tried. III. THE COURSE OF ACTION TO BE PURSUED. 1. Prompt. 2. Wise. 3. Believing. 4. Persevering. (J. Lyth, D. D.) I.II. III. (J. Lyth, D. D.) Happy is the man who has that in his soul which acts upon the dejected as April airs upon violet roots. Gifts from the hand are silver and gold, but the heart gives that which neither silver nor gold can buy. To be full of goodness, full of cheerfulness, full of sympathy, full of helpful hope, causes a man to carry blessings of which he is himself as unconscious as a lamp is of its own shining. Such a one moves on human life as stars move on dark seas to bewildered mariners; as the sun wheels, bringing all the seasons with him from the south.(H. W. Beecher.) People Epaphroditus, Paul, Philippians, Thessalonians, Timotheus, TimothyPlaces PhilippiTopics Cheered, Comfort, Comforted, Condition, Encouraged, Getting, Hope, Hoping, Learn, News, Permits, Quickly, Receive, Refreshed, Shortly, Spirit, State, Timotheus, Timothy, Trust, TurnOutline 1. Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility;12. to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world, 16. and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God. 19. He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also. Dictionary of Bible Themes Philippians 2:19 5938 sadness Library Notes on the Second CenturyPage 94. Line 9. The Book of ---- The reference here is to the apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon xiii. 1-5. Page 104. Med. 33. As originally written this Meditation commenced thus: Whether the sufferings of an. Angel would have been meritorious or no I will not dispute: but'---- And the following sentence, which comes after the first, has also been crossedout: So that it was an honour and no injury to be called to it: And so great an honour that it was an ornament to God himself, and an honour even to … Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations January 17. "It is God which Worketh in You" (Phil. Ii. 13). April 28. "For it is God which Worketh in You" (Phil. Ii. 13). July 11. "For it is God which Worketh in You" (Phil. Ii. 13). November 30. "In Lowliness of Mind Let Each Esteem Other Better than Themselves" (Phil. Ii. 3). May 28. "He Humbled Himself" (Phil. Ii. 8). June 6. "He Emptied Himself" (Phil. Ii. 8, R. V. ). Palm Sunday Work Out Your Own Salvation A Willing Sacrifice A Plea for Unity Copies of Jesus Paul and Timothy Paul and Epaphroditus The Descent of the Word The Ascent of Jesus July the Fourth Emptying Oneself Your Own Salvation The Exaltation of Christ Consolation in Christ The Temper of Christ The Mind which was in Christ Jesus. Rev. George Wood. How to Keep Passion Week 2 Cor. 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