Philippians 2:19-30

(Philippians 2:19-30)

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.  For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

A church that becomes like Christ. So how can someone dream of such a church together? Paul speaks of two people. One Timothy and one Evabrodi. Paul refers to these two men as models of the heart of Christ. Paul was not hesitantly recommending Timothy and Eva Brodido, and talking to the Philippine Church about the plan to send them.

On Timothy, Paul said, ``But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. 』

『Who really thinks about your situation』, as churches are gathered from different kinds of people, there can be a conflict between them. The church should be one, but there should be no conflict. So, each other's understanding should be the basis, and Timothy is such a character.

Timothy knows what a podium is. James 1:12 『Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 』. Those who desire the Lord are made in temptation. In the test, the ability of discernment develops. Regarding discernment, in Romans 12, 『And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 』

The phrase "make discernment" means "consist of discrimination". It is not that humans can discern, but it is discerned. In order to be like this, you have to change. It is changed and renewed. Discernment is linked to renewal. As long as it is renewed, it is discerning. ``Be discerning'' is the word tokimazo (δοκιμάζω) in Greek, and its adjective (Dokimas) is ``to endure trials'' in James 1:12. In order to discern, you are admitted to be right in the test.

『But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. 』 Paul metaphorically states, "Christ even died on the cross for Heavenly Father." Timothy was the most beloved disciple whom the Apostle Paul called his son. Timothy was serving and assisting the Apostle Paul in Philippi prison right there. The Lord is looking for such a person.

Paul introduced him in verse 20, "I have nothing else." How many co-workers and how many followers would have been around the Apostle Paul? By the way, at this moment, the apostle Paul was in the gloomy prison in Philippi prison, there was only Timothy to find. The only other person, Timothy, was that. Among the many, only one, the Apostle Paul, introduces Timothy as a special person. The expression "I have nothing else" will have the meaning of being different from others. Timothy was a different person.

 Why and how could he be so different? "They all sought their own work, not the work of Christ Jesus." All of them took care of their jobs first. They focused on taking care of themselves. It means that they paid attention to the things of the world. The work of the church must be the work of the gospel, the work of the service of Christ, and they have paid attention to the work of the world.

Talking Eva Brodido in verse 29, 『For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 』A person named Eva Brodido has the meaning of "Lovely". When his parents were named to be loved like Aphrodite's goddess of beauty, he became a man who was loved and respected by the Philippi Church and the Apostle Paul.

Evabrodido, sent by Philippi Church to help Paul's prison life, became like Paul's brother. Although Eva Broddo was Paul's backseat in prison, Paul called him a co-worker. Co-workers are literally people who work together. It is important to note that people who have important tasks or those who have trivial tasks are essentially co-workers and cannot be defined as a parent-child relationship. This is especially true in God's work, in that no human being can place himself high.

Paul called Epaphroditus the one who fought with him. He is a fellow soldier fighting dark forces to proclaim the Gospel. Paul lived in prison like a real struggle. It was not only difficult for him to endure his life because of his weak constitution, but also difficult to endure the neglect and cynicism that flowed from inside and outside the church. Eva Brodido remained with Paul until he was seriously ill.

However, when Paul's prison life had not ended, the reason that Evrobido eventually returned to Philippi was probably because Paul judged that he had a serious illness and could no longer afford prison life. Paul takes care of him by sending Eva Brodido back to the Philippi church. Paul explains two reasons for the return of Epaphroditus to escape the misunderstanding and criticism of the Philippian Church that he may have returned without fulfilling the mission entrusted to him. First, it was said that the reason for the return of Evabrodido was to let the Philippi Church confirm and rejoice in his health, and to relieve his anxiety. In other words, it was not the responsibility of Evabrodido, but the choice for the Philippians and Paul himself.

 

Second, Paul urged Philippi Church to honor the same person as Evabrodi. Everyone in the Philippi church thought only about his work, not the work of Christ Jesus. In such a situation, Paul urged "Eva Brodido, who labored so hard to look back on his life," to be precious.