Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2013 Interlaken Study Lorin L Cranford cranfordville.com [email protected]

SESSION THREE: 2:19-30 puter. Look for these two icons in the Special Studies column:

This is a hyperlink to the PP slides for the individual sessions in pdf format.

This is a hyperlink to the background commentary for each slide in the individual studies. This material is a part of the continuing ministry through the BIC commentary series that is intended to pro- vide background commentary insights into the study of the and early Christianity.

In the previous study we took a look at Paul’s situa- tion while under imprisonment in (1:12-26) and his in- structions to the church at (1:27-2:18). In this study we shift back to the biographical narrative focus with Paul in- dicating plans to send both Timothy and Epaphroditus from Rome to Philippi to help the church. Very likely it was these two who carried this letter back with them on their trip to Philippi.

Now let’s take a look at this ancient letter. In the world of the apostle Paul letters played a vital role in communication, and especially when face-to-face conversation was not possible due to differing circumstanc- es. Literally thousands of ancient letters have survived over these centuries and now exist in various libraries scattered across Europe and North America. The careful study of these by Christian scholars has uncovered the reality that the letters of Paul followed the basic structural patterns of ancient Greek letters, although with considerable creativity exercised by Paul in expanding and at times modifying the Before we begin with the study of the text a few pre- dominate ancient patterns. liminary items for your information: As is indicated in the slide, four component elements Both the PPP slides and a commentary text of each typified the vast majority of ancient Greek letters. The intro- presentation is available online free. These are found at my ductory Praescriptio almost always was written on the out- website cranfordville.com under the Biblical Insights Com- side of the rolled up papyrus scroll used for writing the letter. mentary section. Look for volume 14 on Philippians in the It seldom ever contained a grammatical sentence. Rather, a life of Paul section. These files are in the Adobe pdf format formula expression of three phrases identified first the letter and can be viewed online and downloaded on to your com- Page 1 sender (=Superscriptio), then the letter recipients (=Adscrip- the letter, with some reference to what had been going on tio) and finally a word of greeting from the sender to the during the time of his imprisonment there. Then he shifts to recipients (=Salutatio). The majority of the ancient letters focusing attention on the needs of the Philippians utilizing were much shorter than Philemon in the Pauline section of spiritual insights gleaned from his experience at Rome. the New Testament, and thus would be written on one side Another trait that we began noticing is his pattern of of a single sheet of papyrus. Paul’s letter to the Philippians reaching back to expansion elements beyond the core ex- follows that pattern. pressions in both the Praescriptio and the Proem in order The Proem of ancient letters contained a health wish, to pick up those themes again for much greater elaboration usually in the form of a prayer to the patron deity of the re- than given them initially in these two introductory sections. cipients of the letter. Paul greatly expands the typical Proem In our text for this study we see a little of that with the em- into a distinctive Christian greeting adapted from both the phasis on Timothy who was mentioned in the Superscriptio customary Greek and Jewish greetings. as included in the sending of the letter (cf. 1:1). In that ref- The letter body stands as the major part of the letter erence he is described along with Paul as δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ and develops the themes that the sender of the letter de- Ἰησοῦ, servants of . But now in 2:19-24 a much sired to communicate. In the letters of Paul, the majority of more detailed depiction of Timothy will be given. Epaph- the letters will address issues and concerns that are on the roditus only surfaces in the letter first here in 2:25-30, but mind of Paul. Usually he has received a visit from someone will receive more attention at the end of the letter body in connected to the individual church who has informed him 4:10-20 in connection to the gift sent by the Philippians in of what is happening in the congregation. Since Paul is un- support of Paul in Rome. Thus both men will receive atten- able at the moment to make a trip to visit the congregation tion in the letter. in order to address the issues, he does the next best thing What becomes clear from 2:19-30 is that at the time available to him in that time: he sends a letter expressing his of the writing of the letter both men are with Paul in Rome. views and concerns to the congregation. Timothy was already there for quite some time from all indi- The Conclusio section comes at the end and typically cation. But Epaphroditus came to Rome from Philippi repre- contains a wide variety of elements. Almost never does it senting the church to Paul while the apostle was imprisoned ‘conclude‘ the letter in the sense of summarizing the previ- in the imperial city. Both men subsequent to the composi- ous contents. Rather it contains the more formal elements tion of the letter will travel to Philippi both to deliver the considered appropriate in the ancient world for finishing a letter along with Paul’s personal greetings to the church. The communication with a formal ending. time frame for all of this is in the early 60s. Paul had arrived in Rome around AD 61 from Palestine in the custody of the Roman officials. He was handed over to the authorities in Rome, then placed under house arrest which gave him con- siderable freedom to receive visitors and carried on minis- try. A Roman soldier was stationed with him at the private residence and Paul was not permitted to leave the residence except to appear before the authorities. But people come freely come visit him at the residence. Epaphroditus during this time arrived from Philippi with a substantial monetary gift to help cover Paul’s expenses. While there he took upon himself the responsibility to help see after Paul’s needs along with the other there in the city.

In the previous study we examined the first two em- phases in the letter body: 1. Paul’s situation at Rome, 1:12-26 2. Instructions to the church, 1:27-2:18 What we noticed was a tendency by Paul to utilize a lot of biographical information, and then often launch from this narrative material into didactic teaching material target- ing the Philippians directly. His depiction of his situation at Rome centered on the present time of the composition of Page 2 The apostle begins with an update on Tim- othy, spelled Τιμόθεος in Greek.1 In Lystra of the Lyconian region of Asia Minor about 50-51 AD, Timothy was converted under the influence of Paul during the second missionary journey as described in Acts 16. One of his early mission- ary experiences after joining Paul and was at Philippi when the Christian community was established. Throughout the remainder of Paul’s life, Timothy served as one of those trusted assis- tants helping the apostle wherever he travelled. Thus throughout the second and third missionary travels of the 50s Timothy faithfully served God along side Paul and others with Paul. Now in the early 60s Timothy is assisting Here in Phil. 2:19-24 we find Timothy working with Paul during his imprisonment at Rome. It is unclear whether Paul in Rome, but about to be sent to Philippi. Paul begins Timothy was continually with Paul, but from both Acts and with an expression of his plans: Ἐλπίζω δὲ ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ the writings of Paul the picture emerges of him being pres- Τιμόθεον ταχέως πέμψαι ὑμῖν, And I hope in the Lord Jesus to ent most of the time if not all of it. sent Timothy to you very soon. One should note that Ἐλπίζω, Of the many assistants who worked with the apostle unlike the English word ‘hope,’ carries the sense of expec- over his missionary career, Timothy seems to have been tancy rather than just possibility. Thus we sense that Paul the one Paul turned to most often and most consistently. had definite plans in place for sending Timothy to the church Numerous times Timothy would be dispatched to travel to at Philippi. The distance for such a trip was between 1,300 this church or that one when Paul was unable to go him- and 1,500 kilometres, depending on how much was by boat 3 self. Timothy is mentioned as the co-sender in six of Paul’s and how much overland. Thus it was no quick trip kind of letters, strongly suggesting that he did the actual writing of matter. these letters as a writing secretary. By the time that Paul Paul’s stated objective for sending Timothy is ἵνα κἀγὼ was martyred in the middle 60s, Timothy would have spent εὐψυχῶ γνοὺς τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν, so that I may be cheered by learn- considerable time at giving missionary leadership ing how things are among you. Clearly implicit in this is that to the Christian communities there and in the surrounding Timothy was not going to spend much time in Philippi be- region. Two of the letters by Paul are addressed to Timothy fore returning to Rome in order to bring Paul news about the while he was at Ephesus subsequent to this period of being church in Philippi. With a month or more travel time each in Rome during the first phase of Paul’s imprisonment. The direction, it would be some time before Timothy could make later church historian Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History a round trip to Philippi and back. Paul’s use of the compound (3.4.6) claims that Timothy served as the first bishop of the word κἀγὼ, I also, underscores anticipated joy by the Philip- church in Ephesus.2 pians when Timothy arrives with news about Paul. for he uses the word ἱστορεῖται, which seems to imply that he had 1“A missionary associate, fellow worker, and trusted emis- some authority for his statement. According to those , he sary of Paul over an extended period of time. Timothy is mentioned was at the time of their composition in Ephesus, though they give after Paul in the prescript of various Pauline letters as a co-sender us no hint as to whether he was afterward there or not. From Heb. of those letters (1 Thess 1:1; 2 Cor 1:1; Phil 1:1; Philemon 1; cf. also 13:23 (the date of which we do not know) we learn that he had 2 Thess 1:1; Col 1:1). He is variously identified as ‘our brother’ (1 just been released from some imprisonment, apparently in Italy, Thess 3:2; 2 Cor 1:1; Philemon 1), as ‘fellow worker’ (1 Thess 3:2; but whither he afterward went is quite uncertain. Eusebius’ report Rom 16:21), and as Paul’s ‘beloved and faithful child in the Lord’ that he was bishop of Ephesus is the customary but unwarranted (1 Cor 4:17; cf. 1 Tim 1:2) who enjoys a special relationship with carrying back into the first century of the monarchical episcopate this apostle (Phil 2:20–22; cf. 1 Tim 1:2, 18; 2 Tim 1:2; 2:1). Many which was not known until the second. According to the Apost. interpreters also see the phrase ‘apostles of Christ’ (1 Thess 2:6) Const. VII. 46 both Timothy and John were bishops of Ephesus, the as including Timothy along with Paul (and Silas).” [The Anchor Yale former appointed by Paul, the latter by himself. Timothy is a Dictionary, eds. David Noel Freedman, Gary A. Herio, David F. in the Roman Catholic sense, and is commemorated January 24.” Graf, et als (New York: Doubleday, 1992). S.V., “Timothy.”] [Eusebius, “Church History,” in volume 2.1 of The Nicene 2 “That Timothy was the first bishop of Ephesus is stated also and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series I, Logos edition] by the Apost. Const. (VII. 46), and by Nicephorus (H. E. III. 11), who 3Interestingly, the Stanford University ORBIS system proj- records (upon what authority we do not know) that he suffered ects a sea route for the ancient world of 18 days covering some martyrdom under Domitian. Against the tradition that he labored 2843 kilometers. This is an estimate for travel in January. That is during his later years in Ephesus there is nothing to be urged; a considerably longer distance than by crossing over the Italian though on the other hand the evidence for it amounts to little, as peninsula by land, the across the sea to the Grecian peninsula and it seems to be no more than a conclusion drawn from the Epistles using the major Roman road overland to Philippi. to Timothy, though hardly a conclusion drawn by Eusebius himself, Page 3 Paul then moves on to amplify4 his appreciation of had visited the church several times on Paul’s behalf, along Timothy along with the esteem given him by the Philippians with traveling with Paul through Philippi twice on the third as well. The compound sentence in vv. 20-21 first pays trib- missionary journey. Thus the Philippians knew Timothy well. ute to the integrity of Timothy which stands in stark contrast But what they had observed more that anything else to the lack of integrity by others who had worked at times was τὴν δοκιμὴν αὐτοῦ, his provenness. These many visits with Paul in ministry. gave them the opportunity to observe the integrity of this First, the tribute: οὐδένα γὰρ ἔχω ἰσόψυχον, ὅστις young man, and also, how much Paul esteemed him: ὡς γνησίως τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν μεριμνήσει, for I have no one like him, πατρὶ τέκνον σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, how who of such character to genuinely care for your welfare. By like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the the use of the rare adjective ἰσόψυχον, Paul indicates that . These two men had developed a father/son relation- Timothy’s concern for the Philippians match his own. Then ship based on spiritual values and shared commitment to the use of the qualitative relative pronoun ὅστις to intro- the Gospel. Out of this came trust and confidence in Timothy duce the modifying clause Paul re-enforces the affirmation by Paul. And thus his willingness to entrust Timothy not only of character and integrity by Timothy. Further affirmation with the responsibility of writing this letter, but also with comes in the use of the adverb γνησίως to speak of genuine reading and explaining it to the congregation at Philippi. concern rather than mediocre or phoney expressions. The In verse 23-24, Paul returns to his projected plans re- direct object phrase τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν is inclusive of caring for garding Timothy and himself as well. everything connected to the Philippian believers. The verb Concerning Timothy, τοῦτον μὲν οὖν ἐλπίζω πέμψαι μεριμνήσει stresses deep compassion and interest in the ὡς ἂν ἀφίδω τὰ περὶ ἐμὲ ἐξαυτῆς, this one indeed therefore I Philippians.5 This is quite a tribute to Timothy. expect to send as soon as I see how things go for me. The com- This portrait of Timothy stands against the backdrop bination of μὲν and ἐλπίζω underscore the definiteness of of disinterest by some others: οἱ πάντες γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτῶν Paul’s plan to send Timothy to Philippi. The timing of this ζητοῦσιν, οὐ τὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, for all of them are seeking their would depend on Paul’s circumstance in Rome. The phrase own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Exactly whom did Paul ὡς ἂν ἀφίδω stresses a decision being made once things mean by οἱ πάντες, they all? The most nature meaning con- become clear about his status before the Roman authori- textually would be folks around Paul while in imprisonment ties. Very likely implicit here is the lack of any scheduled ap- at Rome. In 1:15-18 Paul alludes to some in the church there pearance before the emperor, which would give Paul a clear who had a hatred of Paul. Perhaps he is thinking of some sense of what was likely to happen to him (τὰ περὶ ἐμὲ). But of these by this statement. One think to always remember: once this was determined, immediately (ἐξαυτῆς) Timothy any time the adjective πάντες is used in ancient literature would be sent on to Philippi. it never means all absolutely. Rather, it is closer to ‘a lot of’ Almost as an after thought along the same lines as or ‘the majority of.‘ Very likely at this point in Paul’s ministry what he had said in 1:23-26,6 he expresses confidence in he did not have a lot of people working with him whom he being released from prison and thus able to come to Philip- felt comfortable in sending to Philippi. Certainly no one who pi personally: πέποιθα δὲ ἐν κυρίῳ ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς ταχέως measured up to Timothy! Thus there may very well be some ἐλεύσομαι, and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon. Paul intentional hyperbole here in order to highlight further Tim- fully expected to visit the Philippians at least once more. othy’s character. Nothing inside the New Testament suggests that this expec- The next point made by Paul affirms the Philippians’ tation was realized. esteem for Timothy: τὴν δὲ δοκιμὴν αὐτοῦ γινώσκετε, ὅτι Already in the letter Paul has reflected considerably on ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, his future in 1:23-26, 2:17, and here. He deliberated over the And Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he very real possibly of execution by the Romans. And that was has served with me in the work of the gospel. From the out- okay if God chose to bring him on home to Heaven. He could set the Philippian church had know Timothy. On the second 6Phil. 1.23 συνέχομαι δὲ ἐκ τῶν δύο, τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων εἰς missionary journey he made at least two trips to Philippi, τὸ ἀναλῦσαι καὶ σὺν Χριστῷ εἶναι, πολλῷ [γὰρ] μᾶλλον κρεῖσσον· first from Athens and then from Corinth. An additional trip 24 τὸ δὲ ἐπιμένειν [ἐν] τῇ σαρκὶ ἀναγκαιότερον διʼ ὑμᾶς. 25 καὶ was made from Ephesus to Philippi by Timothy during Paul’s τοῦτο πεποιθὼς οἶδα ὅτι μενῶ καὶ παραμενῶ πᾶσιν ὑμῖν εἰς τὴν lengthy Ephesian ministry on the third missionary journey. ὑμῶν προκοπὴν καὶ χαρὰν τῆς πίστεως, 26 ἵνα τὸ καύχημα ὑμῶν Thus over the decade or so since their beginnings Timothy περισσεύῃ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ διὰ τῆς ἐμῆς παρουσίας πάλιν πρὸς ὑμᾶς. 4The conjunction γὰρ normally introduces a reason for 23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to de- something previously stated. On occasion the idea of cause ex- part and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24 but to remain in pands to include a explanation of greater detail which then stands the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am convinced of in a foundational role to what was previously stated. This is the this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your role here. progress and joy in faith, 26 so that I may share abundantly in your 5In 4:6 the verb is used for concern to the point of worry, in boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. the negative side of its potential meaning. Page 4 rejoice in his life being poured out as a sacrificial libation hints at it in the following statements of vv. 26-28. The es- offering (2:17). But what seemed most likely to the apos- sence seems to be that Epaphroditus was homesick to see tle was that the time of his departure had not yet arrived. his fellow believers in Philippi. This especially in light of a There was still ministry to be done. And this ministry would near death experience after arriving at Rome. include the Philippians. What is clear to Paul is that God was This Christian servant is complemented greatly by Paul in control of his future, not men. In that realization, he sim- in this initial statement in verse 25. First, he is called by Paul ply refused to worry about what might happen to him. τὸν ἀδελφὸν, my brother. This commonly used term affirmed esteem and respect for another as a part of the family of God. Second, Paul refers to him as συνεργὸν, fellow worker. This is overwhelming- ly a Pauline word with all but one of the thir- teen NT uses found in Paul’s writings. Epaphroditus worked along side the apostle in service to Christ. Third, Epaphroditus is a συστρατιώτην, fellow soldier. Only used here and in Philemon 2 of , the term suggests one who went through struggles together with Paul next turned to talk about Epaphroditus in vv. 19- Paul. Perhaps his illness is meant or possibly some other 30. Unfortunately all that we know about Epaphroditus is struggle that are not named. The four traits are marked off found in the two NT references in this letter: 2:25-30 and in the Greek text by τὸν and μου, thus indicating the quali- 4:18.7 He was sent by the church at Philippi to carry their ties grow out of connection with the apostle. love offering to Paul while in Rome under house arrest (4:10- Two more qualities are indicated that are connected 20). Now Paul indicates his intention to send Epaphroditus to the church at Philippi as introduced by ὑμῶν δὲ, but your. back to Philippi along with Timothy to deliver this letter to These are ἀπόστολον and λειτουργὸν. First is ἀπόστολος, the church. here with the more natural meaning of envoy or representa- Paul’s portrait of him in 2:25-30 is, however, quite tive. Although the word is only used with this meaning three insightful. First Paul indicates that he believes it to be nec- times in the NT (out of the 79 uses: Jn. 13:16; 2 Cor. 8:23; essary to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi: Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ Phil. 2:25), this was the most natural meaning of the term ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον...πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, And I consider in secular usage during the first century. It literally means it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus. Paul does not define ‘one sent by others as a messenger.’ Epaphroditus had been what the compulsion was behind this statement. But he sent by the Philippian church to inform Paul on how they were doing. The other term, λειτουργὸν, priestly servant, la- 7“Epaphroditus was a common name in the first century bels one as doing priestly service to a deity. In his travels to (BDAG, MM). Although it embodies the name of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and fertility — the personification Rome Epaphroditus was doing God’s service in behalf of the of the sexual instinct — who was worshiped throughout almost Philippians to Paul. This is made very clear by the modifier all the Greek world, no believer, not even the apostle Paul, de- attached to the term: λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, a priest- manded that this leader of the church change his pagan idolatrous ly servant for my need. This especially alludes to the finan- name to something more ‘Christian.’ The name Epaphroditus, in cial gift carried from Philippi to Paul in Rome in behalf of fact, means ‘charming,’ so there would be a reason to keep it, like the church (cf. 4:10-20). But the words of encouragement at , which was later adopted by the bishop of brought by Epaphroditus among other things done for Paul Antioch (see Ign. Eph. 1:3: Onesimus, ‘a man of inexpressible love while he was helping the apostle in Rome constituted a and your bishop’; cf. Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 4.26.13), evidently be- spiritual blessing to Paul from Epaphroditus. cause it meant ‘useful’ (see Phlm 10–11 for another Onesimus). Paul indicates in vv. 26-27a the basic motive for send- One reason for such toleration may have been the awareness that a Christian is not one who merely possesses a . ing Epaphroditus back to Philippi: 26 ἐπειδὴ ἐπιποθῶν ἦν Rather, a Christian is one who practices the Christian life (as the πάντας ὑμᾶς καὶ ἀδημονῶν, διότι ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἠσθένησεν. later Diognetus will illustrate; see H. G. Meecham, The to 27 καὶ γὰρ ἠσθένησεν παραπλήσιον θανάτῳ, since he has Diognetus [Manchester: Manchester UP, 1949]).” [Gerald Haw- been longing greatly for all of you, as well as being depressed, af- thorne, Philippians, vol. 43 in the Word Biblical Commentary, rev. ter you heard that he had been ill. For indeed he was sick almost (Dallas: Word, Inc.), 2004] Page 5 to the point of death. The depth of Epaphroditus’ devotion to pressed mercy not only to Epaphroditus the patient but also the church at Philippi is reflected in these statements. The to Paul his caregiver: οὐκ αὐτὸν δὲ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐμέ, and special periphrastic grammar construction used by Paul here not only on him but also on me. Paul’s needs were so as to not stresses the intensity and duration of Epaphroditus’ longing pile one grief upon another to his already full plate: ἵνα μὴ for the Philippian church. When he became deathly ill while λύπην ἐπὶ λύπην σχῶ, so that I might not have grief upon grief. at Rome and the church at Philippian learned about, this Paul was deeply grateful that the Lord chose not to load up concerned Epaphroditus even more. his plate with even more responsibility and concern than he Paul lays out several of these aspects point by point already had there in Rome. here. ἐπειδὴ ἐπιποθῶν ἦν πάντας ὑμᾶς, because he has been Out of this situation then Paul indicates his even great- longing greatly for you all. The idea of the participle is deep er desire to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi in order to desire. The periphrastic construction stresses during over an relieve apprehension on their part about Epaphroditus (v. extended period of time. Epaphroditus upon arrival at Rome 28): σπουδαιοτέρως οὖν ἔπεμψα αὐτόν, ἵνα ἰδόντες αὐτὸν began to miss ‘the folks back home’ increasingly as time πάλιν χαρῆτε κἀγὼ ἀλυπότερος ὦ, I am the more eager to send went by. Added to this was καὶ ἀδημονῶν, διότι ἠκούσατε him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, ὅτι ἠσθένησεν, (he was) distressed because you heard that he and that I may be less anxious. Paul realized that Epaphroditus’ was sick. Paul doesn’t specify whether Epaphroditus fell ill af- return to Philippi would be a ‘win / win’ situation for both ter arriving at Rome, or while he was traveling on the way to him and the church at Philippi. They would be overjoyed to Rome from Philippi. Neither is it made clear how the Philip- have him back home ‘safe and sound.‘ Paul would have one pians learned about his illness. What Paul does stress is that less worry there in Rome. once Epaphroditus learned that the Philippians knew of his In light of this (οὖν) the apostle encourages the illness he began worrying about their apprehension for his church to gladly welcome Epaphroditus back home (v. 29): welfare. Paul goes on to say in this letter just how ill Epaph- προσδέχεσθε οὖν αὐτὸν ἐν κυρίῳ μετὰ πάσης χαρᾶς καὶ roditus was: καὶ γὰρ ἠσθένησεν παραπλήσιον θανάτῳ, for τοὺς τοιούτους ἐντίμους ἔχετε, welcome him therefore in the indeed he was sick to the point of death. From some unnamed Lord with great joy, and show honor to such individuals. The first illness Epaphroditus almost died. So there was reason to be admonition is easy to understand. The second one extends apprehensive about his illness. In that ancient world where the idea to holding individuals in high esteem: ἐντίμους medical practices were little more than superstition, serious ἔχετε. illness posed one of the greatest dangers to people. And The reason for showing such honor to Epaphroditus is thus became one of the most frightening experiences. given in the causal clause in v. 30: ὅτι διὰ τὸ ἔργον Χριστοῦ μέχρι θανάτου ἤγγισεν παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ, ἵνα ἀναπληρώσῃ τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα τῆς πρός με λειτουργίας, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me. By making this trip from Philippi to Rome, Epaphroditus came close to dying. This was -- as Paul says -- to accomplish what the Philippians could not themselves do: deliver the finan- cial offering to the apostle in Rome. Doing this Paul char- acterizes as λειτουργία, a priestly religious service done in behalf of the Philippians.8 This is some kind of update on Timothy and Epaph- roditus! Paul explains their situation to the Philippians, and especially commends them both for their devoted service to Christ, along with their concern for the church at Philippi. In the composition of the letter, Paul indicates his intention to send both of these men to the church. But the delivery of In reassurance, however, Paul continues to indicate the letter by them will be delayed somewhat until the apos- how God intervened to heal Epaphroditus (v. 27b): ἀλλʼ ὁ tle has a clearer idea of how his situation in Rome is going to θεὸς ἠλέησεν αὐτόν, οὐκ αὐτὸν δὲ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐμέ, ἵνα end up. Both men are highly esteemed by the church, one μὴ λύπην ἐπὶ λύπην σχῶ, But God had mercy on him, and not because it is his home, Epaphroditus, and the other, Tim- only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sor- othy, because of extensive ministry periodically there over row after another. Absolutely nothing is said about the use several years. They can be trusted by Paul to carry out his of medical procedures nor prayers for healing by Paul here. requests in ministry to the church. These were not central to Paul’s point. Rather, that God took 8The English word liturgy is derived from λειτουργία, thus mercy on Epaphroditus and healed him. God always stands highlighting the religious nature of such actions. behind every healing from illness. This action by God - ex Page 6