A Portrait of Two Heroes :19-30

INTRODUCTION If you were to walk into our basement, you would find a plastic box filled with about 200 comic books. They’re not just any comic books—they were my mother’s comic books from the late 50’s and early 60’s. There’s a wide assortment of everything from Archie to Disney, but my favorite are the Superman comics. In part, because I’m holding out that someday they might be worth something. But also, because everyone loves a hero. Someone who helps others. Someone who gives of themselves in extraordinary ways. Someone who is worthy of being emulated.

Mark Twain once said, “Few things are more annoying than a good example.” But, in my estimation, few things are more powerful than a good example. A good example has the power to help others change. To inspire. To model what could be. The Apostle Paul recognized that to be true, and in his letter to the church at he highlights two men who were important in his life and ministry. Men that in many ways are heroes.

We’ve been making our way through the book of Philippians, finishing chapter 2 this morning. When we began this chapter, Paul spoke about the humble, downward movement of . He left the glories of heaven to come and die on the cross, only to then be exalted back to his throne. In light of this, Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling because God himself is at work in us. Verses 1-18 are some of the richest in the entire book. But then, we come to Philippians 2:19-30. It is perhaps one of the most neglected passages in Philippians. Some think there isn’t much to be digested in these verses. In fact, the famous theologian, Karl Barth, once said that this passage “does not contain any direct teaching.” Barth, however, was wrong.

As you begin finding Philippians 2:19-30 in your , I want you to be on the lookout for more than just Paul’s travel plans. Although he shares some details about his travels, what you are going to see is a portrait of two heroes. Two godly examples who embody the very things that Paul has been describing up until this point in the letter.

Of course, you have to ask why that’s important. Why devote 10% of the letter to talking about Timothy and Epaphroditus? Because Paul wanted to give living, breathing examples of ordinary people who were living out what he had just taught. Because the church at Philippi needed real people, role models, living examples—heroes. They were dealing with a bit of conflict in their congregation: selfishness, pride, complaints. It’s one thing to tell a church how they need to change, but it’s another thing to provide flesh-and-blood examples. I firmly believe that in order for a congregation to change and grow, it will take real people to embody these qualities we see in men like Timothy and Epaphroditus.

What did Paul say about the abilities and gifts of these two men? Nothing. In twelve verses, he writes nothing about extraordinary talents. In fact, we have every reason to believe that Timothy and Epaphroditus were ordinary men. They probably didn’t stand out from the crowd as charismatic leaders. Do not underestimate what God can do in your life when you commit to living a life worthy of the . It doesn’t take charisma or unique gifts….it takes convictions. There are four primary convictions I see in our text.

1. I Will Prove Myself in Consistent Service to Christ (vv19-24).

If you remember, Paul is writing from prison in . He’s letting the church in Philippi know that he hopes to visit them soon, but before that can happen, he’s sending Timothy (v19) and Epaphroditus (v28) to them.

Who was Timothy? Well, we know that Timothy was a young man, perhaps in his twenties. Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, reminds him, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” We sometimes read that verse as if it is an admonishment to older that they should not look down on youth, but is written to Timothy to say, “Don’t give anyone a reason to despise your youth. Be mature. Set a godly example.” And Timothy did just that. He was Paul’s right-hand man. Acts 16 tells us that Timothy joined Paul around the time the Philippian church was started. He was Paul’s special delegate that he could trust to send to various cities and churches with clear instructions. His name is included, you’ll notice, at the beginning of this letter. He’s a co-author with Paul. In fact, six of Paul’s letters include him—that’s how close Paul and Timothy were.

What made Timothy such an important person to Paul? Verse 20: “For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.” Paul says, “I have no one like him.” Some of your translations say, “kindred spirit.” More literally it means no one “of equal soul.” In other words, whatever Timothy does or says when he arrives, the Philippians can rest assured that it is what Paul himself would have said and done. Timothy knows the heart and mind of Paul better than anyone else.

How do you suppose Timothy got to that point? How did he become Paul’s right-hand man? Three words: faithful, available, and teachable. Perhaps one of the greatest things you can do with your life is become faithful, available, and teachable. Again, don’t focus on abilities or gifts. God’s purpose is to use you, but how can he if you refuse to make the time? If you don’t follow through? If you aren’t humble enough to learn?

Paul says, “I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.” Timothy is a living illustration of what Paul’s been talking about here in chapter 2. Remember what he called them to do back in verses 3 and 4? “In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Timothy’s character is defined by these verses. But the Philippian church is presently defined by a lack of these verses. They lack humility. A genuine concern for others. Timothy is being sent there to help reorient their attention when it comes to relationships. In effect, Paul is saying this: “Timothy embodies what I’ve been talking about. Look at him. Emulate him. See in him the changes you need to make.” Do you realize that if you wish to grow in your walk with the Lord, one of the best things you can do is spend time with someone who is ahead of you?

Sadly, I think many of the Timothys are overlooked because our culture is obsessed with emulating athletes, pop stars, and anyone with more than 10,000 followers on Instagram. And so many people, especially younger people, have bought the lie that meaning, satisfaction, and greatness can be found in being like them.

Talking about other people, Paul says in verse 21: “For they all seek their own interests, not those of Christ.” This is a remarkable statement. Paul is telling us what sets Timothy apart from some of the other men in Rome. But look closely at the contrast. You have Timothy’s love and concern for the Philippian church versus everyone else’s lack of concern for Christ. Why didn’t Paul say, “They seek their own interests, not those of you Philippians?” Because to be concerned for other is to be concerned for Christ. And if you are concerned for the things of Christ, then you will care deeply about the welfare of your brothers and sisters. Oh,

how easy it is to get wrapped up in our own concerns to the neglect of others and the neglect of Christ. I love how John Calvin put it: “They were so warm in pursuing their own interests that they were cold in the work of the Lord.”

Becoming someone like Timothy doesn’t happen overnight. Listen to what Paul says in verse 22. “But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.” In the ancient world, people learned by apprenticeship. A man would spend years under his father, whether it be learning to farm, or fish, or build. Timothy spent his years apprenticing under Paul in the gospel. He had proven himself. The word means to be approved by passing a test. It has the idea of demonstrating under pressure that you have the right character.

The word “served” is worthy of notice. There are several Greek words that refer to serving. The word “served” in 2:22 is the Greek verb douleuo. It refers to living out your life as a slave. When we use the phrase “slaving away,” we use it in a negative sense. We think of tasks that are menial or undesirable. But Paul uses it positively. To serve the Lord Jesus Christ as his willing slave is a high honor. In other words, Timothy didn’t consider any work within the church to be menial, unimportant, or a chore. So long as you are slaving away—giving your all to Christ—it is a blessing and a privilege. And if you are slaving away in all that you do for the Lord, there is blessing in this life and the life to come.

Paul says that Timothy has proven himself because he’s witnessed a consistency in his life over what was probably a decade. Maturity does not happen overnight. Producing Christian character takes time and effort, but the formula is quite simple: time plus discipline equals growth. In fact, you could apply that to just about anything you would undertake—weightlifting, piano playing, Scripture memory. Anything worthwhile requires time and discipline. And so, the Lord calls us to a consistent service to him.

I will prove myself in consistent service to Christ. That’s the first conviction we need to have. Here’s the second…

2. I Will Do Whatever the Lord Asks of Me (v25). Look at what he says in verse 25: “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need.” Now, who is Epaphroditus? He did not have quite the same role as Timothy did in the early church. In fact, he is only mentioned two times in the , whereas Timothy is mentioned twenty-four times. But what I find interesting is the fact that Paul devotes more words of commendation in this section to Epaphroditus than he does Timothy.

The name Epaphroditus means “belonging to Aphrodite,” the pagan goddess of love and sex. And that tells us he did not grow up with Christian parents. But somewhere along the way Epaphroditus met Jesus Christ, probably through the ministry of Paul. And while his name remained the same, his allegiance was forever changed, and so was his character.

Paul uses five different adjectives to describe Epaphroditus: • Brother: he is a part of God’s family and very dear to the congregation at Philippi. • Fellow worker: he was someone who worked alongside other believers, namely Paul. • Fellow soldier: he fought side by side with Paul, protecting one another in warfare. • Messenger: traveled 800 miles, which was a dangerous two-month journey, to bring correspondence.

• Minister: this refers less to a title, and more to a function. All believers are to minister to others through their service.

These descriptions raise an important question: Can you say to the Lord, “I’m willing to do whatever you might call me to do?” Are you deeply concerned about the spiritual well-being of other believers to the point that you will serve them in whatever capacity?

Don’t miss the fact that Epaphroditus was not an apostle, a pastor/elder, or someone with a public ministry. He was simply a member of the church at Philippi. Yet Paul holds him up in great esteem. He goes out of his way to praise him to others. You see, to be a Christian worth emulating, you don’t have to be an officer in the church. You don’t have to have a public ministry. You have to be available, willing, and faithful. That’s what makes a hero in the eyes of the Lord.

I will prove myself in consistent service to Christ. I will do whatever the Lord asks of me. Here’s the third commitment…

3. I Will Think More of Others Than Myself (vv26-27). One of the reasons why Paul is getting ready to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi is found in verses 26 and 27: “for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”

Apparently, after traveling 800 miles from Philippi to Rome, Epaphroditus became ill. It was serious enough that he nearly died. In those days, something called “Roman Fever” took many lives. If you’ve ever traveled abroad, especially to a third-world country, you know that you have to take medical precautions. Epaphroditus had zero benefits of modern medicine, so whatever disease he contracted nearly took his life. When the Philippians heard about it, they were worried and sent a message to Rome. What is so astonishing is that Epaphroditus is more concerned that the Philippians are worried about him than he is about his own condition. He is longing for these believers and is even distressed over their concern.

The word “distressed” in the original Greek is the same term used to describe Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Epaphroditus was distressed because his friends in Philippi thought he was sick. Let that sink in for a moment. Epaphroditus was more concerned about their emotional welfare than his own physical condition. Clearly, he had a heart for people in ways that many today don’t.

This is part of what made Epaphroditus, by all respects an “ordinary guy,” someone to be emulated. He cared more about people than about himself. Now, if you’ve been tracking with us through Philippians, you’ve heard me talk about this time and time again. Put others first. Be humble. Care more about others than yourself. Sacrifice for them. My guess is that some of you might be wondering why I keep coming back to this. Great question! I’m just following along with whatever Paul is saying next. And he keeps bringing it up. If the church at Philippi had trouble picking this up, then perhaps some of us do as well. This, brothers and sisters, is the call of the ordinary Christian. We can quickly make decisions based upon what is best for us, in our best interest or our perceived rights, without giving thought to someone else. And that is something we must fight against.

I will prove myself in consistent service to Christ. I will do whatever the Lord asks of me. I will think of others more than myself. Here’s the fourth commitment…

4. I Will Make Sacrifices for the Sake of the Gospel (vv28-30). Paul closes this section in chapter 2 by letting the Philippians know that Epaphroditus is heading home and they need to honor him for his service. In verse 28 and following he writes: “I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”

Paul needs Epaphroditus in Rome, but he is sending him back because he doesn’t want the church at Philippi to be worried. Paul’s praise of him comes not simply because of what he did, but because of why he did it. He risked his life. In verse 30 Paul says that Epaphroditus “nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” This is the only place this word “risking” appears in the New Testament. It’s a gambling term. Epaphroditus risked, he gambled, his life for the work of Christ.

Most of us here won’t be called to risk our lives for Christ, but we’re all called to risk our comfort, our money, our reputation, our plans. When was the last time you took yourself out of your comfort zone for the sake of the gospel? You see, we tend to live in a Christian subculture that by and large keeps us from risking anything for the sake of the gospel.

When I was taking my PhD seminars, I was in a cohort of 6-8 other students. Very often we would be asked to share research for our dissertation with the group. I had a classmate who wrote about D. L. Moody, the famous evangelist. And what was so fascinating about Moody is that he wasn’t an above-average guy or even an average guy. He was in many ways below average. He had little education. He was a simple shoemaker. But one day he heard a preacher, Henry Varley, say these words: “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man [an ordinary person] who is wholly consecrated to him.” Moody thought, “What if I were that man?” He lived the rest of his life and saw thousands come to faith in Christ because he was an ordinary person who made a radical risky commitment to live for the gospel of Jesus.

I tell you that story because God wants to take the life of every believer and do something extraordinary. God wants to do something with, for, and through you that will make a difference in his kingdom. And you have to decide that you are going to be like Timothy and Epaphroditus—ordinary people who follow the example of Christ: taking the form of a servant, thinking of others more, consistently serving Christ, risking your own comfort.

CONCLUSION When we think of emulating people like Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus, we can feel as if a large weight has been placed on us. After all, they’re shining examples. They’re Christlike heroes. But it would be a colossal mistake if we didn’t look past them to the ultimate hero. The hero of the entire .

We need men and women in our lives that we can look up to as models of the Christian faith, but we also need to fix our attention on the greatest hero of all. We are called to emulate him. But this hero did something that none of us could ever do. What he accomplished, we could never emulate.

Jesus Christ is our ultimate hero. In verse 20 Paul said he had no one like Timothy, yet Paul still humbly sent him away for the sake of the church. But it’s far more significant that God the Father, who had no one like his only Son Jesus, sent Jesus from heaven to earth in order to

save us from our sins. And there’s Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus risked his life—nearly dying for the sake of the gospel. But Jesus didn’t merely risk his life, he lost his life. He lost his life, not for the sake of the gospel, but to give us the gospel. You see, Jesus didn’t die for heroes. He died for his enemies. He died for sinners. He died for broken, sinful, flawed, and unheroic people. Before any of us here ever did anything worth emulating, Jesus loved us on the cross.