Philippians 2.19-30, Part 2

While Paul feels unable to send Timothy to the Philippians at this moment, he determines it is “necessary” to send Epaphroditus to church right away. Paul takes pains to express both his and the Philippians’ mutual attachment to the person. He is “my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier” (words reminiscent of the partnership language in chapter 1) and “your messenger and the one who serves my needs” (2.25).

Though the Philippians had initially sent this man to Paul, he eagerly embraces his own affection for the man before sending him back, likely to reassure that the Philippians (in the personage of Epaphroditus) had been well-received by the apostle and to ensure that his own message would receive a similar reception among them.

Paul sends Epaphroditus for two reasons: the messenger was longing for the church and the church was experiencing anguish at the thought of the latter’s severe illness (2.26). In sending him, Paul hopes that the Philippians will rejoice and his own anxiety about them (i.e., the Philippians) will be relieved. A good messenger, well-prepared, should accomplish these objectives given the right situation.

Paul concludes this section on his plans with a word about the church’s responsibility: they are under an obligation to receive Epaphroditus “with all joy and honor men like this” (29) because of such service for the gospel. Here the messenger becomes, for Paul, the embodiment of the participatory service in the gospel that he is trying to urge upon the church at Philippi. Paul wants them to be careless with their life as Epaphroditus was on Paul’s (and thus the gospel’s) behalf (2.29–30) and as he has been on their behalf.