Paul “Practiced What He Preached”
Paul’s plans for Timothy and Epaphroditus. Two men who were very important to Paul.
Introduction:
- Paul “practiced what he preached”.
Do the things that you advise other people to do.
Paul taught:
Philippians 2:3 NLT
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Romans 12:10 NLT
10 Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.
Ephesians 5:21 NLT
21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
1 Peter 5:5 NLT
5 … . And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
- Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Philippians 2:4 NLT
4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
- Paul had a genuine concern for the Philippians.
Note how Paul treats these two men in this passage.
Paul was not certain of his own future.
How did Paul die?
The Bible does not say how the apostle Paul died.
It is universally accepted that he died a martyr. Based on historical events, the Romans beheaded him. (Christian.net)
The accuracy of this tradition is impossible to gauge. Again, the Bible does not record how Paul died, so there is no way to be certain regarding the circumstances of his death. (gotquestions.org)
Paul knew that his release or death could come at any time.
Notice how Paul put others before himself.
Philippians 2:19-30 NLT
Paul Commends Timothy
19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
Paul Commends Epaphroditus
25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
Examine the Scriptures:
Plans for Timothy and Epaphroditus
Philippians 2:19-30 NLT
Paul Commends Timothy
19 If the Lord Jesus is willing,
If the Lord Jesus is willing.
Paul was not certain of his own future.
- Paul knew that his release or death could come at any time.
James 4:13-17 NLT
13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.
I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit.
Paul is planning to send Timothy to Philippi so that he can encourage the believers at Philippi and report back to Paul how the Philippian Church is doing.
- If Paul ever needed Timothy it was while he was there in Rome under house arrest. Yet he was willing to sacrifice Timothy’s companionship so others could be helped.
Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along.
- Paul’s letter and Timothy’s visit would encourage the believers at Philippi.
- Good news about the Philippians would be an encouragement to Paul.
20 I have no one else like Timothy,
Several translations use the word “likeminded”.
- Timothy was one in thought, feeling, and spirit with Paul in love for the church.
who genuinely cares about your welfare.
- Timothy has a genuine concern for the welfare of the Philippians.
Philippians 2:4 NLT
4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.
Living for self vs. living for Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Did Paul mean to include everyone he had ever known, or did he mean those who were with him in Rome? Most likely the latter.
22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself.
The Philippians knew Timothy.
Timothy’s qualities were unexcelled.
Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News.
Timothy “served” with me …
Most translations use the word “served”.
Some translations use
toiled
labors
slaved
worked
Paul and Timothy had a father son relationship.
- Timothy was Paul’s beloved son in the faith.
1 Timothy 1:2 NLT
2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith.
Philippians 1:1 NLT
Greetings from Paul
1:1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.
Timothy had a servant attitude.
23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.
This may be referring to the outcome of Paul’s trial.
24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
Paul most likely wrote this letter to the Philippians during his first Roman imprisonment (A.D. 60-62). It is believed that Paul also wrote Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, the other Prison Epistles during this same time period.
It is possible that Paul never saw the Philippian Christians again (but see 1 Timothy 1:3, about AD 63.) (also see Acts 28:30)
Paul Commends Epaphroditus
This is a story of selfless affection.
25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you.
- Little is known about Epaphroditus.
Epaphroditus was from Philippi.
- Epaphroditus was the messenger who had delivered gifts to Paul from the Philippian church.
Philippians 4:18 NLT
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.
Epaphroditus was most likely delivering Paul’s epistle (Paul’s Letter to the Philippians) to Philippi.
He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier.
- Paul described Epaphroditus as a brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier.
Fellow soldier suggests the difficulties, opposition, and dangers encountered in Christ’s work.
Epaphroditus is an example of genuine Christian love.
- Paul loved and needed Epaphroditus.
And he was your messenger to help me in my need.
The messenger sent by the Philippian Church with gifts to the imprisoned Paul.
26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died.
While in Rome, Epaphroditus had become seriously ill and almost died.
Epaphroditus was distressed about the Philippians hearing that he was ill.
- Epaphroditus longed to return to Philippi.
He was very distressed that you heard he was ill.
But God had mercy on him—and also on me,
God’s healing was a result of God’s mercy on both Epaphroditus and Paul.
so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you.
Paul did not want the Philippians to be worried about Epaphroditus.
- Paul had the best interests of the Philippian believers and Epaphroditus at heart.
29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.
People like Epaphroditus deserve honor.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NLT
Paul’s Final Advice
12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
Epaphroditus could do things for Paul that the Philippian believers living in Philippi could not do.
Paul was indeed selfless.
Galatians 5:22 NLT
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love …
