PHP 2:19-30

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be of good cheer, having known the things concerning you.

20For I have no one like-souled, who genuinely will care for the things concerning you;

21for they all seek the things of themselves, not the things of Jesus Christ.

22But the proven worth of him you know, that as a child with a father he served with me for the gospel.

23Him therefore I hope to send, as soon as I see off the things concerning me;

24but I am persuaded in the Lord that I myself also will come quickly.

25But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus — my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your apostle and public servant of my need —

26since he was longing for all of you, and was distressed because you heard that he was sick.

27For indeed he was sick, near to death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28More earnestly therefore I sent him, that having seen him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.

29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such ones in honor;

30because on account of the work of Christ he came near to death, having risked his life, that he might fill up your lack of service toward me.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Philippian context, the mention of Timothy and Epaphroditus would have resonated deeply with the community’s values of loyalty, service, and mutual care. Timothy, described as (like-souled), embodies a rare unity of purpose and affection with Paul, reflecting the Greco-Roman ideal of friendship as a bond of shared virtue and commitment. His proven character aligns with the Philippian expectation of trustworthy leadership, especially in a culture where public figures were often scrutinized for their integrity. Epaphroditus, referred to as a (public servant), would have been understood as someone who risked his life for the gospel, a concept familiar in a society that honored those who sacrificed for the common good. His illness and recovery would have been seen as a testament to divine favor and communal solidarity, reinforcing the Philippians’ sense of shared mission and mutual support in the face of hardship.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

PHP 2:19

KJV: But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
BSB: Now 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.
Koinōnos: But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be of good cheer, having known the things concerning you.

PHP 2:20

KJV: For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
BSB: I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs.
Koinōnos: For I have no one like-souled, who genuinely will care for the things concerning you;

PHP 2:21

KJV: For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
BSB: For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Koinōnos: for they all seek the things of themselves, not the things of Jesus Christ.

PHP 2:22

KJV: But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
BSB: But you know Timothyʼs proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.
Koinōnos: But the proven worth of him you know, that as a child with a father he served with me for the gospel.

PHP 2:23

KJV: Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
BSB: So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me.
Koinōnos: Him therefore I hope to send, as soon as I see off the things concerning me;

PHP 2:24

KJV: But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
BSB: And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
Koinōnos: but I am persuaded in the Lord that I myself also will come quickly.

PHP 2:25

KJV: Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
BSB: But 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.
Koinōnos: But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus — my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your apostle and public servant of my need —

PHP 2:26

KJV: For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
BSB: For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.
Koinōnos: since he was longing for all of you, and was distressed because you heard that he was sick.

PHP 2:27

KJV: For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
BSB: He 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.
Koinōnos: For indeed he was sick, near to death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

PHP 2:28

KJV: I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
BSB: Therefore 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.
Koinōnos: More earnestly therefore I sent him, that having seen him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.

PHP 2:29

KJV: Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
BSB: Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him,
Koinōnos: Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such ones in honor;

PHP 2:30

KJV: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
BSB: because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.
Koinōnos: because on account of the work of Christ he came near to death, having risked his life, that he might fill up your lack of service toward me.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

PHP 2:20

like-minded,:The word translated 'like-minded' describes someone who shares the same inner disposition, affections, and purpose, indicating a deep unity of spirit and outlook.

PHP 2:22

the proven worth:The phrase 'the proven worth' refers to a character that has been tested and found genuine, like metal refined by fire, demonstrating reliability and integrity through experience.

PHP 2:25

minister:The word translated 'minister' originally referred to someone who performed a public service or duty, often at their own expense, for the benefit of the community or the state.

PHP 2:30

he came near:The phrase 'he came near' uses a word that means to expose oneself to danger or to risk one's life, emphasizing the extreme peril Epaphroditus faced.