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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philippians 2:19-30

Paul takes particular notice of two good ministers; for though he was himself a great apostle, and laboured more abundantly than they all, yet he took all occasions to speak with respect of those who were far his inferiors. I. He speaks of Timothy, whom he intended to send to the Philippians, that he might have an account of their state. See Paul's care of the churches, and the comfort he had in their well-doing. He was in pain when he had not heard of them for a good while, and therefore... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 2:25-30

2:25-30 I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, your messenger and the servant of my need, because he is longing for you all, and he is very distressed because you heard that he had been ill, so ill that he nearly died. But God had pity on him, and not on him only, but on me too, that I might not have grief upon grief. So, then, I send him to you with the more despatch, that, when you see him, you may be glad again, and that I may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:25

Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus ,.... In the mean while, before either he or Timothy could come to them. This man was sent by the Philippians to the apostle with a present, and had been detained at Rome for some time, partly through business, and partly through sickness; but now the apostle thought it proper, he being recovered, to send him to them, who was one of their ministers. One of this name lived at Rome about this time, and was one of Nero's freemen F15 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 2:25

Epaphroditus, my brother, etc - Here is a very high character of this minister of Christ; he was, A brother - one of the Christian family; a thorough convert to God, without which he could not have been a preacher of the Gospel. He was a companion in labor; he labored, and labored in union with the apostle in this great work. He was a fellow soldier; the work was a work of difficulty and danger, they were obliged to maintain a continual warfare, fighting against the world, the devil,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 2:25

Verse 25 25I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus. After having encouraged them by the promise of his own coming and that of Timothy, he fortifies them also for the present, by sending previously Epaphroditus, that in the mean time, while he waited the issue of his own affairs, (for this was the cause of his delay,) they might not be in want of a pastor who should take care that matters were properly managed. Now, he recommends Epaphroditus by many distinctions — that he is his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:19-30

The considerate missions of Epaphroditus and Timothy. The passage is still dominated by the idea of consideration for others as the proper outcome of the Christian spirit. The life God inspires ( Philippians 2:13 ) is the life of consideration for others. In this section we have this beautifully illustrated by Epaphroditus, Timothy, and the Philippians, as welt as by Paul himself. We cannot do better than look at the public spirit as thus historically illustrated. I. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:19-30

Timothy and Epaphroditus. I. TIMOTHY . 1 . His mission "But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state." He looked forward to sending Timothy to them in the not-distant future. This hope he entertained in the Lord Jesus. It was not the hypocrite's hope, which is like the spider's web. It had to do with his being spared; but that, not based on worldly scheming to secure an acquittal at his approaching... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:19-30

Two characters, representing two aspects of Christian work. I. TIMOTHY , A MAN OF SYMPATHY . The secret of true sympathy is to be seeking for the things of Jesus Christ. He who seeks for these feels, as his Master feels, for all human sorrows. Such a one is thoroughly "like-minded," and is delivered from the selfishness which cares for nothing but self. None can work for Christ except they are possessed of this sympathy. II. EPAPHRODITUS , A MAN OF ACTIVE MINISTRY ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:24-30

Epaphroditus the link between the apostle and Philippi. As it was still uncertain what would be the issue of his bonds at Rome, the apostle deemed it right no longer to detain the worthy Philippian minister who had relieved the tedium of his imprisonment, but sent him back to Philippi under circumstances which attest the tenderness of the relation which bound all three together. I. CONSIDER THE APOSTLE 'S ESTIMATE OF THE HIGH CHARACTER OF ERAPHRODITUS . 1 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:25

Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus ; translate, but I count it necessary. ἡγησάμην here and in Philippians 2:28 are epistolary aorists; they point, that is, to the time of reading the letter, not to that of writing it; and are therefore to be rendered by the English present. Epaphroditus is mentioned only in this Epistle. Epaphras is the contracted form, but the name is a common one, and there is no evidence of his identity with the Epaphras of Colossians and... read more

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