Philippians 2:20

For I have no man like-minded, who will care truly for your state. For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

Paul referred to those around him as "brethren" (Philippians 4:21), but they were far short of the zeal and dedication of a man like Timothy. Paul has been accused of petulance on account of this evaluation of his associates; but it is a mistake to make anything out of this except what it is, a matter-of-fact statement concerning the attitude of some of the apostle's contemporary brethren. Furthermore, the same evaluation would apply to a great many so-called "brethren" in our own times.

As Caffin said, "Paul's spiritual isolation increases our wonder and admiration for the strain of holy joy that runs through Philippians."[52] It is also a mistake to apply Paul's words here to everyone associated with him in the New Testament. "We must suppose that faithful helpers like Luke were not in Rome at this time having been sent away for a little while on some business."[53] As Mounce put it, "Paul's no one here is not a sweeping condemnation of fellow laborers, but it means that of those available there was no one like Timothy?[54] Despite this, as Dummelow said, "Doubtless some of Paul's brethren had declined the mission from reasons that Paul considered selfish."[55]

[52] B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 63.

[53] James Macknight, op. cit., p. 434.

[54] Robert H. Mounce, op. cit., p. 767.

[55] J. R. Dummelow, op. cit., p. 974.