Philippians 2:19-30

Models for Ministry

2:19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you. 2:20 For there is no one here like him who will readily demonstrate his deep concern for you. ¹  2:21 Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ. 2:22 But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel. 2:23 So I hope to send him as soon as I know more about my situation, 2:24 though I am confident in the Lord that I too will be coming to see you ²  soon.

2:25 But for now ³  I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, ⁴  coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger ⁵  and minister ⁶  to me in my need. ⁷  2:26 Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill. 2:27 In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. ⁸  But God showed mercy to him – and not to him only, but also to me – so that I would not have grief on top of grief. 2:28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, ⁹  so that when you see him again you can rejoice ¹⁰  and I can be free from anxiety. 2:29 So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 2:30 since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me. ¹¹ 

[2:20]  ¹ tn Grk “For I have no one who is like-minded who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.”

[2:24]  ² tn The words “to see you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied, and are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[2:25]  ³ tn Grk “But.” The temporal notion (“for now”) is implied in the epistolary aorist (“I have considered”), for Epaphroditus was dispatched with this letter to the Philippians.

[2:25]  ⁴ tn Grk “my brother” instead of “For he is my brother.” Verse 25 constitutes one sentence in Greek, with “my brother…” functioning appositionally to “Epaphroditus.”

[2:25]  ⁵ tn Grk “apostle.”

[2:25]  ⁶ tn The Greek word translated “minister” here is λειτουργός (leitourgo").

[2:25]  ⁷ tn Grk “servant of my need.”

[2:27]  ⁸ tn Grk “For he became ill to the point of death.”

[2:28]  ⁹ tn Grk “I have sent him to you with earnestness.” But the epistolary aorist needs to be translated as a present tense with this adverb due to English stylistic considerations.

[2:28]  ¹⁰ tn Or “when you see him you can rejoice again.”

[2:30]  ¹¹ tn Grk “make up for your lack of service to me.”