TEACHING NOTES Introduction In this series, we have been learning about how to work out or live out our salvation from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. This letter—and this series—is all about learning to be faithful. Today, Paul is going to teach us about our need to have godly examples in our lives. Obviously, Jesus is the best example to follow. But we also need to watch and learn from people who are like Jesus and have been following Him for a long time. ‌ How to Live Out Your Salvation: ‌Phil. 1:1-11 — Partnership in the Gospel ‌Phil. 1:12-26 — Live Selflessly ‌Phil. 1:27-30 — Work Together as a Family ‌Phil. 2:1-11 — Live Like Jesus ‌Phil. 2:12-18 — Exercise Your Salvation ‌Phil. 2:19-30 — Follow Godly Examples ‌ Godly Examples in Philippians: ‌Christ (Phil. 2:6-11) ‌Timothy & Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:19-30) ‌Paul (Phil. 3:1-4:1) ‌ Philippians 2:19–21 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. ‌ Timothy = Grk. Timotheon or Timotheos - honored or valuable to God. Timothy is first mentioned in Acts 16 where he is described as having a Jewish mother (Eunice—2 Tim. 1:5) and a pagan Greek father. When Paul first met Timothy in Lystra, this young man was already of disciple of Jesus and was well spoken of by the church in Lystra and Iconium. As a result, Paul decided to make Timothy his traveling companion. Paul sent Timothy to minister to the churches in Thessalonica, Corinth, Macedonia, Jerusalem, and Ephesus. Timothy eventually became one of the main “overseers” or shepherds of the church in Ephesus. ‌ Cheered by news of you = Paul wants to send Timothy to Philippi and report back to him on how things are going in the church there. Paul had connections to many churches in both the Jewish and Gentile areas. So, Paul would often send an associate to those churches to find out how they were doing. ‌ No one like him = Notice Paul’s view of Timothy here. Paul had several companions or associates that helped him in his ministry. But Paul seems to have believed that Timothy was the best helper in the crew. This means that Timothy is portrayed as a good example for the churches to imitate. ‌ Genuinely concerned for your welfare = Paul is not sending Timothy to Philippi just to take notes and give Paul a report. Paul knows that Timothy also cares deeply for this church and will help them while he is there. ‌ They all seek their own interests = Paul is referring here to other people who were claiming to be apostles or teachers but were doing it for personal gain. Paul mentions this problem several times (Phil. 1:14-15; 3:2, 18-19). ‌ Philippians 2:22–24 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. ‌ Timothy’s proven worth = As we’re told in Acts 16:2, Timothy had a reputation in the early church of being a godly and faithful man. ‌ Served as a son with a father = Paul treated Timothy as his son in the faith. Paul even refers to Timothy as his son/child on several occasions (1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2). ‌ Philippians 2:25–27 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, 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. ‌ Epaphroditus = Paul tells us in Phil. 4:18 that Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippians to Paul with a gift of supplies while he was in prison. We must understand that when a person was in a Greco-Roman prison, food and supplies were not provided by the guards. Prisoners were dependent on family and friends visiting them and providing for their needs. Now that Paul has received these gifts, he is sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi with this letter. ‌ Brother, fellow worker, soldier = Epaphroditus is not merely a delivery man for the Philippians. Paul considers him a member of God’s family (brother), a fellow worker (in ministry), and a fellow soldier (comrade in the mission). ‌ Your messenger = Messengers in the first century were more than merely a mailman. Messengers were usually trained to deliver a message in the style and language of the sender. For example, when Epaphroditus returns to Philippi with this letter, he would stand before the church and perform the letter according to how Paul trained him. ‌ Minister to my need = This refers to the gifts/supplies that Epaphroditus brought to Paul from the Philippian church. “Minister” often refers to meeting a person’s physical needs. For example, after Jesus had been fasting for 40 days and tested by the devil, Matthew 4:11 tells us that “angels came and were ministering to him.” The angels brought food to Jesus after his time of fasting. ‌ Ill, near to death = Apparently during his visit with Paul, Epaphroditus fell ill. While we’re not told exactly what kind of sickness Epaphroditus had, we are told that it was serious enough that he nearly died. ‌ Philippians 2:28–30 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. ‌ That you may rejoice = Paul knows that when the Philippians see Epaphroditus again restored to health they will rejoice and their faith will grow. ‌ That I may be less anxious = The same apostle who wrote Philippians 4:6 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” admits that he had been struggling with anxiety over Epaphroditus’ sickness. ‌ Honor such men = Here we see the point of why Paul is writing this. We are to look for believers like Timothy and Epaphroditus and honor them. We are to learn from their example of godliness and faithfulness. ‌ Risking his life in your service to me = The early Christians were constantly risking their lives for the kingdom of God. Persecution was one life-threatening danger as both Jewish and pagan communities were against Christianity. Traveling was another life-threatening danger in the ancient world. It was very common for gangs of robbers to lie in wait on traveling routes. Jesus even mentions this in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Traveling was also risky because if you became ill, there were little options for treatment and long distances take a long time on foot. ‌ Why This Matters: Humans were created to be dependent on God and other people. ‌ Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” ‌ Proverbs 4:7 “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” ‌ Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no guidance, people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is salvation.” ‌ James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” ‌ Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” ‌ Hebrews 10:24–25 “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting our gathering, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” ‌ 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” ‌ 1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” ‌‌ How to Respond ‌As we end our gathering, we need to focus on our need for Christ. ‌Prayer: Ask God to reveal what needs to change. ‌Repentance: Agree with God and repent of sin. ‌Worship: Thank God for what He is doing in you. ‌Communion: Take Christ in and renew faithfulness.