Philippians 2:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I am not sending him, Timothy, as though I myself will not come, but so that I may be encouraged when I learn your circumstances, and so that in the meantime I may not remain ignorant. "I trust in the Lord," he says, that is, if it is pleasing to God. See how he attributes everything to God and says nothing from his own mind.

I am not sending Timothy because I have wholly abandoned the thought of coming to you. Rather, as I have already said, I do so in order to rejoice in the meantime when I learn of your affairs. Notice how he makes his coming to them depend on God, saying, "I trust in the Lord," that is, if God is well pleased.

Here also the Apostle announces his coming without certainty, placing it in dependence upon the providence of God. It is clear that he has not yet completely escaped the first danger. He indicates this by saying, "when I know the things concerning me," that is, if my affliction comes completely to an end.

Although the Apostle fully hoped for his release from bonds and even counted on "coming soon himself to the Philippians," he nevertheless decided to wait with Timothy's mission until it would be possible to send with him something certainly consoling. Therefore he writes: "I hope to send him," that is, Timothy, "at once, as soon as I know what will happen to me. I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come soon to you."

Showing the fullness of his care for the Philippians, the Apostle tells them of his intention to send the Apostle Timothy to them. To awaken complete trust in him, he speaks of Timothy's entire devotion to the cause of Christianity, free from all self-interest, by which many false teachers were marked. The Apostle wished to send him, on the one hand, to learn the condition of the Philippians. On the other hand, he wished Timothy to be comforted by their progress, and at the same time to inform them of his own condition. This condition was evidently to change for the better. After that, he intended first to send Timothy, and then to go himself. From this the Philippians were to understand that the Apostle was not in a hopeless state. In all this, St.

The thought of possible death in bonds, or at least of their possible continuation, moves the Apostle to care for the spiritual good of the Philippians through someone else. The Apostle's choice rests on Timothy, who in character was very much like the Apostle, ΐαόψυχον. Therefore he could most suitably replace the Apostle Paul where Paul himself could not be present. All the others, who by bodily and spiritual qualities could have taken upon themselves the duty of envoy, lacked sufficient devotion to the work of Christ. They did not wish to obey the Apostle in everything as submissive children. The Apostle, however, will send Timothy only when he receives definite information about his own case. For he continues to hope for a speedy personal meeting with the Philippians. In that case Timothy's mission would, of course, prove unnecessary.

"I am not sending Timothy because I myself will not come. I send him so that I may be encouraged when I learn your circumstances, and so that during this interval I may not remain ignorant. Yet I still hope to come myself," St. Chrysostom. "I hope in the Lord. Through the Holy Spirit he knew that his first imprisonment would end well, and that he would soon receive freedom," St. Damascene. No wavering is visible in the Apostle's confidence. He was certain he would be released from bonds and would direct his way so as to be also with the Philippians. He speaks of this in order to keep them constantly attentive to him. Now they are waiting for Epaphroditus.