Sermon Tone Analysis

*Philippians XI: Commendable Friends *

*Philippians 2:19-30*

*/January 27, 2008/*

 

 

This week, we are going to *finish* off chapter 2 of Philippians.

It’s impressive that I have *managed* to *drag* two chapters out over *three* *months*.

·         Just hope I never decide to preach on *Romans*.

This week’s passage is 2:19-30, page 831 in the pew Bibles.

On Friday, Marilyn saw *Sarah*, my three year-old, pulling out some *Bibles*, and saying to Grace, let’s look at these *passages*.

·         It must be because we play *my* *sermons* at night to help the girls *fall* *asleep*.

In this passage, Paul talks about his *dear* *friends* Timothy and Epaphroditus and their *plans* to come to Philippi.

And we will be asking *ourselves* what kind of *friends* we are.

*Travel in Antiquities *

 

Before we get to the passage, I want to talk a little bit about *travel* in the ancient world.

This letter had to travel some *800* miles, mostly on *foot*, to get to the Philippians.

·         That’s basically the distance from *here* to *San* *Francisco*.

It would usually take about *two* *months*.

But that was a lot *better* than it had been.

It used to be that a journey like that would have been nearly *impossible* for your *average* *citizen*.

In the book of *Galatians*, Paul said that Christ came into the world in the “*fullness* of time,” meaning that he came at just the right time.

There was a *window* of about *200* *years*, from around *30* BC to around *180* AD when *travel* and *communication* were easier than ever had been or would be until the *modern* *era*.

First of all, everyone spoke a *common* *language*: Greek, much like *English* today.

This made it much easier to spread the Gospel.

Secondly, there was *relative* *peace* throughout the known world.

This era is called *Pax* *Romana*.

Rome kept relative peace through *force*, and had stopped the *pirates* who had plagued sea travel.

But in *180* AD, the Roman Empire began *falling* *apart*, and things actually went *backwards*.

·         It wasn’t until the *modern* *era* that we have again the *ease* of *travel* and *communication* that Paul knew.

But by the time the empire began to *collapse*, the Gospel had been *well* *established*, so Christianity was able to *continue* *spreading*, in spite of the *worsening* travel and communication.

·         Christ was born at just the *right* *time* – *before* or *after* and Christianity would have been *stuck* in *Palestine*.

*Roman roads*

 

One key thing that made travel so much *safer* and *easier* was the *roads* that the Romans had created.

It was easily the most *advanced* and *extensive* road system the world had ever known.

It stretched the entire *length* and *breadth* of the Roman Empire had *53*,*000* miles of road.

·         By *contrast*, the US Interstate system only has *47*,*000* miles.

Prior to this, there was no *standard* road system, just *paths, t*ravel was very *slow* and *dangerous* due to *bandits*.

But now there were roads *patrolled* by solider.

There were *rest* *stops*, weight *limits*, toll *booths*, and even mile stones telling how far to the *next* *city* and how far you were from *Rome*.

These roads were crucial for allowing the *military* to *move* quickly.

The Roman roads allowed people to travel *further* and *faster* than had been previously *imagined*.

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*Via Egnatia*

 

One *key* route was the Via Egnatia, which connected the *east* and *west* coasts of *Greece*.

It was the I-90 of the day, going right through *Philippi*.

·         Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus all walked on this road.

Paul used these roads to *great* *advantage* in spreading the Gospel.

Not only did he *travel* on them, but he used them to *care* for his churches via his *letters*.

There was very little in way of a *postal* *service*, so letters were usually *hand* *delivered*.

In the case of Philippians, it was carried by *Epaphroditus*.

Epaphroditus was a Philippian who Paul was sending *back* to *Philippi* and he wants to make it clear that Epaphroditus had served *faithfully*.

·         Today’s passage includes a “letter of *commendation*,” a “*honorable* *discharge*.”

In this portion, Paul also writes a “letter of *recommendation*” about Timothy, who would be sent to Philippi soon.

Paul wanted the Philippians to know that Timothy was coming with his *blessing* and *authority*.

·         So we have a letter of *commendation* and a letter of *recommendation*.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.

I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.

For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.

For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.

Indeed he was ill, and almost died.

But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.

Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.*

/Philippians 2:19-30 NIV/*/  /

 

Looking at the *larger* *context*, this passage seems a little *out* of *place*: Paul is giving a lot of *good* *instructions*, then *interrupts* it to talk about Timothy and Epaphroditus, then he goes on to *give* *more* instruction.

It was *common* in to write something *like* this, *commending* the person who *carried* the letter.

But *where* Paul put was very *odd*.

As I said in an earlier sermon, in the same ways that we use a *certain* *format* when we write a letter, letters of Paul’s day also had a standard format, and this section was put at the *end*.

·         It’s like putting a “*PS*” in the *middle* of the letter.

Why did Paul do this?

Some *scholars* say that Philippians is actually *two* separate *letters* melded together.

·         It’s a *clever* theory, but lacks any sort of *proof* whatsoever.

In reality, Paul put this here for a *specific* *reason*.

Today’s passage is the *last* part of a *larger* *section* beginning at 1:27:

 

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.*

/Philippians 1:27 NIV/*/ /

 

The rest of chapters 1 and 2 tell us *how* to do that, things like: being *unified*, looking to the *interest* of others, following Christ’s *example* of a *sacrifice*, and not *grumbling*.

*Real-life examples*

 

The reason Paul *concludes* this section by talking about Timothy and Epaphroditus is that these guys are going to be *example* of what the Philippians had *just* *read*.

·         In other words: Don’t just *listen* to my words, *watch* these guys.

These are guys who:

 

1.

Lived as *worthy* of the Gospel of Christ.

2. Looked to the *interest* of *others*.

3. *Sacrificed* for the church.

4.

And did this all without *grumbling*.

Paul is a big believer in *living* *examples*.

A couple of different times Paul says things like “*follow* me, as I follow Christ,” or “*Imitate* me.”

Those statements seem *boastful* on Paul’s part.

·         You can tell someone else “you da man,” but you can’t say “I’m da man.”

It doesn’t work that way.

But Paul is pointing out an important *principle*:

 

·         We need *imperfect, *but *concrete* example of Christian living.

*Christ* is of course our *greatest* *example* of how to live, but let’s face it – he is a *tough* *act* to follow.

Sometimes we need to see people around us *struggling* as *we* *struggle*.

It gives us *hope* for ourselves, and also gives us very *specific* *examples* in problems we are dealing with.

When you were in *school* and you didn’t understand the teacher, how often did you ask *another* *student*?

It wasn’t that the student knew the material better, but because they are *struggling* with it also.

·         Timothy and Epaphroditus were to serve as *examples* of godly living.

*Young Timothy*