Timothy and Epaphroditus

Paul hopes in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy soon so that he may be cheered by news of the Philippians, since he has no one else like him who will genuinely care for their welfare. Timothy's proven worth is already known, and Paul expects to send him once he sees how things go with his own case, trusting also that he himself will come soon.

N¹⁹ow I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. ²⁰I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs. ²¹For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel. ²³So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me. ²⁴And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

Paul says he thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus, their messenger and minister to his need, because Epaphroditus has longed for them and has been distressed that they heard of his illness. God had mercy on him when he was near death, and Paul wants them to receive him with joy and honor because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life in service.

²⁵But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs. ²⁶For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. ²⁹Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, ³⁰because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.