Philippians 2:22
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But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Rare praise (Neh 7:2). as a son with the father--Translate, "as a child (serveth) a father." served with me--When we might expect the sentence to run thus. "As a child serveth a father, so he served me"; he changes it to "served with me" in modesty; as Christians are not servants TO one another," but servants of God WITH one another (compare Phi 3:17). in the gospel--Greek, "unto," or "for the Gospel."
Open source ↗The apostle proceeds to further exhortations to several duties, to be like-minded, and lowly-minded, which he presses from the example of Christ (Phi 2:1-11), to be diligent and serious in the Christian course (Phi 2:12, Phi 2:13), and to adorn their Christian profession by several suitable graces (Phi 2:14-18). He then concludes with particular notice and commendation of two good ministers, Timothy and Epaphroditus, whom he designed to send to them (Phi 2:19-30).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.
Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.
In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.
You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,
I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs.