Timothy and Epaphroditus - Philippians 2:12-30

2:12-13 - Since we know that one day all people will acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ and that His gospel is the way to salvation, Paul urges “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” There are several parts of this phrase that bear investigating. First is the “work out your own salvation” part. The article on this chapter from gospeldoctrine.com says, “in the long debate between Mormons and Protestants, the issue of salvation by grace verses works has been perhaps the point of greatest debate. The Mormon position has depended on passages from James and this passage from Paul. Salvation by ‘works’ as some have taught it, required an individual to ‘work out your own salvation with fear and trembling’ as if salvation was ours for the taking- as if works performed with ‘fear and trembling’ could bring salvation in and of themselves. In our fervor to explain the necessity of works, we have at times distorted the reality that salvation is dependent on the grace of God, after all we can do, in spite of all we can do, regardless of all we can do.” I have never really understood the debate between “works” and “grace” because clearly, it is all up to God’s grace to allow us to be saved. I think that I really came to understand that when we talked about “grace” a few weeks ago. It would not be possible for us to receive salvation without the atonement, we could be as good as we wanted to be and none of it would matter if the atonement hadn’t been performed. And Jesus has already promised us that anyone who chooses to be saved can be. But where works comes in has to do with the choosing to be saved. It’s like choosing to go on a long journey to receive everything you’ve ever hoped and dreamed, we want to get there but it takes work on our part. Many people would just choose not to go on the journey because it would be hard or because they don’t really believe that the reward would be there. The opportunity is there for them to take advantage of is they choose, but they have to choose to do it. If works didn’t matter then Jesus wouldn’t have spent a large portion of his time teaching people how to modify their life choices and behavior so that they would WANT to make the journey to their reward. The other part is the “fear and trembling,” which makes it sound like the journey will be horrible, but that’s not the case at all. Paul and other prophets have talked extensively about how living a Christlike life is joyful and happy and empowering, none of those words go with “fear and trembling” at all. So how do we reconcile the words “fear and trembling” with what we know a Christlike life to be? The IM explains, “When Paul said to act ‘with fear and trembling,’ he did not mean that we should be afraid or worried. Instead, he meant that we should serve the Lord with awe and reverence and that we should tremble with eagerness to work out our salvation.” For me personally, “fear and trembling” means to be cautious, to be alert, and to be purposeful in our actions. If you have “fear” about a certain task, then you approach it with concern and a desire to do it correctly. You make intentional choices, there is not autopilot. “Trembling” might mean respectfully, of with the acceptance that the person that you are obeying has authority over you. In fact, verse 13 says that God is the one “which worketh in you both to will and to do od his good pleasure.” 2:14-18 - Paul urges the people to “do all things without murmurings and disputings… in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” This goes back to being people that other people want to be around because of how we make them feel. The way that this verse is phrased indicates that the light isn’t shone ON us, but rather emitted FROM us. It’s not a spotlight for us to put on a show, but more of a lantern that gives light to others. That’s pretty abstract, so what exactly does it mean to give light to others? For me, it means to make others feel like this life is worth living, to help them recognize that they are doing a good job, that they are fighting a hard battle and just by being alive, they are winning. It’s talking about ideas not people, it’s about uplifting not gossiping, and it’s about being friends instead of being right. Ok that hit me pretty hard because especially in this political climate, I’ve looked at people who belief differently than me in a bad light. When it comes to human rights, it’s acceptable to stand up for others who are disenfranchised, but being a light in Christ is more important than being “right” or the winner in an argument. Paul rejoices in the friendship and sacrifices made by the saints in Philippi. This is the unity that Paul wants for them and for us, to be happy with each other and be willing to serve and sacrifice for each other and for the cause of Christ. 2:19-30 - Even though Paul is still in prison, he vows “to send Timotheus shortly unto you,” so that Paul can find out how they are doing. Paul has a lot of faith in Timothy, “for I have no like-minded, who will naturally care for your state.” I take this to be Paul’s way of saying, “Timothy will take care of you while I can’t.” Paul states that “all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” I think the word “all” here means most people, or that “seeking your own” is the natural state of being for people. But Timothy “he hath served with me in the gospel.” So people naturally are only out for themselves but Timothy has consistently shown that he is committed to the gospel and serving others, so he will be sent to the people in Paul’s place. But Paul is optimistic that “I also myself shall come shortly.” He knows that his work is not finished and that he will be freed from prison in Rome shortly. In addition to Timothy, Paul is also sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi, but not out of punishment, but compassion. Paul calls Epaphroditus (E for short from now on), “my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier… and he that ministered to my wants.” This isn’t what you call someone adversarial to you. Clearly E was a competent and gracious servant to Paul and he’s grateful for him, but he was very sick during his stay in Rome, “nigh unto death,” and when he found out that the people in Philippi had heard about his sickness, he wants to return home, probably because he had family there and didn’t want them to worry. Interestingly, E didn’t want to go home because he had been sick, but “because that ye had heard that he had been sick.” It wasn’t the illness that made him homesick, but the fact that people knew about it. Therefore, I think it was a matter of them worrying about him that prompted his desire to return home. It’s also possible that some people in Philippi were concerned that E had not served Paul in the way that they wanted him to, but Paul assures them that “the word of Christ he was night unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.” This is a complicated sentence, Paul is saying that E served him without regard for his own life and almost died in his service “for the work of Christ.” But “to supply your lack of service toward me” took me back. The article says, “In modern English, this sounds like a reproof. However, there is nothing else in this epistle which suggests that Paul is upset with the Philippians. Rather, he rejoices in their faithfulness… Paul is saying, ‘On your behalf, Epaphroditus provided that service which you could not. Rather, he is emphasizing the great lengths to which Epaphroditus had gone to help him, as if to remind the saints that their ambassador had served well and at great personal risk.” Interestingly, this might be one of those times that Paul just talked about where he’s highlighting the service of another when he could have taken all the credit himself or given it to one of his friends who might appear more prominent publicly.