Philippians 2:25–30

2:25 Paul’s word choices tie this section to earlier topics of discussion:

“in humility count [hēgeomai] others more significant than yourselves” (2:3)

Jesus “did not count [hēgeomai] equality with God a thing to be grasped” (2:6)

“I have thought [hēgeomai] it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus” (2:25)

“but to remain in the flesh is more necessary [anankaios] on your account” (1:24)

“I have thought it necessary [anankaios] to send to you Epaphroditus” (2:25)

By repeating such terms, Paul is prompting the Philippians to view his decision to send Epaphroditus as an example of counting them more significant than himself. He models the mind of Christ in considering their needs above his own.

The rest of 2:25 provides five different descriptions of Epaphroditus. Three descriptions connect him to Paul (“my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier”), while two link him to the Philippians (“your messenger and minister to my need”).

2:26–28 Verses 26–27 provide two reasons for sending Epaphroditus (he was “longing”¹ for the Philippians and was “distressed”), while verse 28 gives two purposes Paul hopes to accomplish in sending him (their joy will increase; his anxiety will decrease). Verses 27–28 contain a wordplay (lypē/alypos) that magnifies God’s mercy. God spared the life of Epaphroditus, and in so doing spared Paul from “sorrow upon sorrow” (lypēn epi lypēn). Now Paul will be spared from “anxiety” (alypoteros) when he sends Epaphroditus back to the Philippians.

Epaphroditus is a model of the mind of Christ in counting the Philippians as more significant than himself. Perhaps the highest point of Epaphroditus’s concern for the Philippians came when he was at his lowest point. Even when sick and near death, he was not distressed about his own death. He was instead distressed by the Philippians’ distress! He knew they would be distressed when they found out he was sick. What a touching testimony to the mind of Christ!

2:29 Paul gives two commands: “receive” Epaphroditus and “honor” people like him. The first command includes two phrases showing how to carry out the action: “in the Lord” and “with all joy.” These two phrases represent two prominent themes in Philippians: (1) the whole Christian life takes place “in the Lord” (1:14; 2:19, 24, 29), and (2) gospel partnerships are full of joy (chara; 1:4, 25; 2:2, 29; 4:1). The second command (“honor”) gives the Philippians a chance to avoid a self-centered focus by identifying evidences of grace in Epaphroditus and others like him.

2:30 Epaphroditus is a model of Christ-like ministry and an embodiment of the suffering servant (2:5–11). Paul uses a chiasm to draw further attention to how far Epaphroditus was willing to go to serve Paul’s need. Matthew Harmon’s translation of the chiasm nicely captures the interplay between Christ/serving and death/risking life:²

1. A. because of the work of Christ
   1. B. to the point of death he was near
   2. B'. risking his life
2. A'. to complete what was lacking in your service to me

The last part of the chiasm also points the reader back to the Philippians’ sacrificial service of worship (2:17), as both texts share the same word for “service” (ESV “offering”; leitourgia).