Ian & Jocelyn Barker

Paul is telling of his plans to send two individuals to see the saints in Philippi, but he also uses them as an example of what he means by community and love for one another. Timothy is an example of someone who is of “kindred spirit” with him and who served him as a child serves a father. He has laid down his own ambitions to serve Paul.

Epaphroditus was someone who they sent to Paul as a “minister of my need”. Sensing that Paul would need someone to help take care of him while in prison, they sent this man to him and he became a great brother and “fellow worker” to Paul. But Epaphroditus has become homesick and wanted to see his friends in Philippi. He had become very sick and almost died. Two things are interesting about this:

First, he came to the point of death before he became better. Paul doesn’t say how he was healed, but even Paul’s prayers were not effective in his healing until he almost died. This is a lesson to never give up in prayer, but it is also an indication of the mystery of healing. David Pawson says that healing in the New Testament is almost always linked with evangelism. In other words, healing is not guaranteed for the believer. Healing is for the vindication of the gospel to unbelievers.

Second, Paul mentions that God had mercy on him because he would have become extremely sorrowful. This is a picture of the depth of love and fellowship that Paul had with those whom he ministered with.

Paul exhorts the Philippians to esteem Epaphroditus because he is a man who’s committment to the gospel almost cost him his life. He selflessly served Paul, the Philippians, and the gospel.