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But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.
Verse 19. To send Timothy. It appears that Saint Paul could not send Timothy to Philippi till some time after his deliverance from prison, about the year 63 of Jesus Christ. Tillemont.—In the succeeding verse, we see the high esteem in which Timothy was held by this apostle.
For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.
For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
Verse 21. All seek the things that are their own; that is many do so. Witham.
But you know that he has proved himself. As a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.
Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.
But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.
Verse 24. That I also. This did not take place till full two years were expired, in the year 64: (Tillem.) and others are of opinion, that he was in Macedon when he wrote his first epistle to Timothy. Theo. Atha. Tille.
But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,
Verse 25. Epaphroditus … your apostle, and the minister to my wants. Epaphroditus had also laboured after Saint Paul, and is thought to have been the bishop of the Philippians; thus he might be called their apostle; though, as others conjecture, the word apostle may be here applied to him as one sent by the Philippians to Saint Paul with contributions to supply his wants. Witham.
since he longed for you all, and was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick.
Verse 26. And was sad. Nothing is a stronger proof of the union that existed between the ancient Christians, than this description of Saint Paul: Paul is in prison, and Epaphroditus is dismissed from the extremity of Macedon to come and attend him; Epaphroditus falls sick, and the whole Church at Philippi is in mourning. Calmet.
For indeed he was sick nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.
I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
Verse 28. And I may be without sorrow; without the great concern and trouble that I am now in for you. Witham.
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor,
because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
Verse 30. Delivering up his life to persecutions, and to this danger that he was in by a sickness which was mortal, had not God restored him his health. He came with your charities, to supply that which was wanting on your part, or which I stood in need of; and I am persuaded you desired to do it sooner, if you had met with an opportunity. Witham.