AGAIN I SAY REJOICE
HONOR SUCH MEN
PHILIPPIANS 2:17-30
INTRODUCTION
- You might remember that during our look at Philippians 2:9-11 I told you that the paramount, or greatest confession of the early church was “Jesus Christ is Lord”. The supreme authority of the Creator and Master of the universe was of the utmost importance to early believers. And we noted, that Paul confidently claims through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is, in fact, Lord.
- Now keeping that emphasis on the Lordship of Jesus in mind, listen to the story of an early church father (or leader) named Polycarp. Some of you may be familiar with this account. Polycarp was born sometime in the second half of the first century A.D. and died in the middle of the second century. Historically, it is believed that he was a disciple of the Apostle John – the man who wrote the gospel so named, and the letters of 1-3 John.
- He was appointed by John as the bishop or pastor of the city of Smyrna; and he served faithfully in that capacity for many years. But by the time the middle of the second century rolled around Roman persecution of Christians was at its height. And sometime during the middle of that second century (anywhere between 155-167 A.D. depending upon who you read), Polycarp was arrested on charges that he was a Christian and taken to stand before the city’s proconsul.
- By this time, of course, he was an old man. While sympathy for Christians was probably as rare as a perfectly cut and clear diamond, apparently the Romans had some compassion on the old man because they offered to free him from the punishment he was about to endure if he would simply utter the phrase “Caesar is Lord” and offer a tiny bit of incense to him.
- It was, in actuality, a simple formality that would have given Polycarp his life back. Yet he refused to utter such a lie. His refusal infuriated the now angry mob and they dragged him to the arena to be executed. Once there he was given one last chance to renounce Jesus and bow to Caesar. He responded with some of the most famous words of any Christian martyr: “Eighty six years I have served Christ; and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
- At that response, Polycarp was burned alive while being tied to a stake. Some accounts state that for some miraculous reason the fire continually burned around Polycarp but did not burn him. So the Roman soldiers had to stab him to death. One way or the other, Polycarp was executed for his refusal to acknowledge anyone except Jesus the Messiah as Lord.
- Stories like that encourage our faith. Men and women throughout history who displayed faith and trust in Jesus Christ to that level inspire us during our times of weakness and despair. We cannot help but be motivated by hearing of the faithfulness of others. And today we are going to look at three more examples, in addition to Polycarp, of encouragement and motivation – this time from the inspired word of God.
- In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul is reminding his readers of the account of Moses and the Israelites written in the Old Testament and he writes this in vv.6-11: Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
- Those Old Testament accounts were written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we might read them and avoid the same mistakes others have made before us. Our passage in Philippians 2 is just the opposite. What we find in vv.17-30 is the description of the lives of three men whom God used in his kingdom work. And just as we look to some of the Old Testament men and women as examples of failure (and often success as well), we will look to the lives of these men as examples of godliness.
- Let’s begin at v.17 of Philippians 2.
[READ PHILIPPIANS 2:17-30]
- All three of the men we see in this passage were associated with Philippian church. And we are very familiar with the first person who is mentioned: the Apostle Paul. What I want us to take note of from the first few verses of this passage is that: Paul was a model of sacrifice and joy.
PAUL: A MODEL OF SACRIFICE & JOY
- The sacrifice of Paul is seen throughout his ministry. And we get a great glimpse of it in v.17: Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
- Now sacrificial systems are largely a thing of the past; in this country at least – so I’m pretty sure none of you have ever taken part in a sacrifice of any kind. I’m guessing that a lot of us are unfamiliar with the practice; particularly the Jewish practice that is alluded to here. So let’s explain what Paul means by what he writes.
- To do this I want to turn to Numbers 28. In Numbers 28 we have instruction concerning a certain kind of food offering with its accompanying drink offering. Stay with me for a second. In vv.1-8 it says: The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.’ And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil. It is a regular burnt offering, which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. Its drink offering shall be a quarter of a hin for each lamb. In the Holy Place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord. The other lamb you shall offer at twilight. Like the grain offering of the morning, and like its drink offering, you shall offer it as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
- It’s important for us to understand that all of the Old Testament sacrifices were shadows of, that is they pointed to, the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Before Christ came on his saving mission the people of God would offer temporary sacrifices that foreshadowed the cross. We just read about one of them.
- In the morning and in the evening the Jews would sacrifice a male lamb. This was called a food offering. As a part of that food offering, they would offer a drink offering. In this case it was a strong alcohol or wine. It was poured out onto the food offering as it burned. This is what Paul compares himself to. He says: Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith...
- Of course then, the drink offering was associated with sacrifice and death. And Paul was a kind of drink offering. His life, even to death, was given in complete service to the Philippians and the rest of the church. The sacrifice upon which his drink offering is poured is not an animal but their faith.
- The commitment Paul is making here is a commitment to serve the saints with his entire life so that their faith may progress and the unsaved can come to faith no matter what the cost. Even if he dies for that reason, he will rejoice. And so Paul, in the midst of being a model of sacrifice is also a model of joy.
- Now this is truly an odd couple. Sacrifice and joy are not synonyms. Rarely would we use them in the same sentence or even in the same thought. But what does he write? I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
- We talked last time about living for the pleasure of God. Paul was so consumed with pleasing God with his life that if he died for that cause; if he was to be poured out as a drink offering for their faith, he would rejoice – and wanted them to rejoice in that as well. He has already written to them that to him: to live is Christ, and to die is gain. And we notice now that he didn’t just write it, he lived it.
- Paul understood the meaning of true joy. Joy can occur in the midst of life’s most terrible circumstances because it is not based upon those things; but upon Christ. That’s why he will go on to write later in this very letter: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
- Moving on into v.19 we are presented with the second great model of godliness: Timothy. Timothy was a model of faithfulness and devotion.
TIMOTHY: A MODEL OF FAITHFULNESS & DEVOTION
- Timothy has already been mentioned once in this letter. At the very beginning of the book, in v.1, Paul acknowledges that Timothy is with him while the letter is being written. This young man, as we have stated several times before, was a protégé of the Apostle Paul. We peer into that relationship when we look at this verses.
- Paul wanted to send Timothy to the city of Philippi on his behalf so that he could receive news of their condition. Finding out what was going on in a distant city was not a matter of connecting to the internet or picking up your cell phone. If you wanted news about a specific place, you either traveled there yourself or sent someone else. The trip from Rome, where Paul is imprisoned, to Philippi was about 1,200 miles one way.
- So this would have been a significant task. If you are going to send someone 1,200 miles you want the information you receive to be accurate. You have to be able to trust your messenger. And if that person is going to enter the church on your behalf you must know that he is a genuine, true believer who is concerned for the welfare of the church.
- Timothy was that man. Paul writes: For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
- Paul knew that Timothy’s devotion was to Christ and his body. He was not in ministry to serve his own self-interests. In fact the phrase “like him” literally means “equal in soul”. Paul knew of no one who was “of equal soul” with him; no one else was as committed to the same things he was other than Timothy.
- Now why did Paul have such trust in Timothy? In v.22 he tells us: But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
- Timothy had earned Paul’s respect and trust by devoting himself to ministry and faithfully serving with him. He was so devoted to Paul in those years before Paul left him to pastor the church in Ephesus that Paul called him “equal in soul”.
- Just like a son is supposed to honor his father Timothy honored Paul. As a son learns from his father, Timothy learned from Paul. As a son should be devoted to his father, Timothy was devoted to Paul. You get the picture: Timothy was a trustworthy man.
- Well what about this gentleman with the strange name? Our third example of godliness is Epaphroditus, who was a model of self-denial and concern.
EPAPHRODITUS: A MODEL OF SELF-DENIAL & CONCERN
- His name was a very common Greek name; and it is closely related to the word that meant “a favorite of Aphrodite”. Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty. The name is not so common today. How many of you would name or would have named your son Epaphroditus? That’s what I thought.
- Contrary to his name, however, Epaphroditus was a great servant of the one, true, living God. Paul calls him a fellow worker and fellow soldier. Here was a man who was dedicated. I find Paul’s reference to him as a soldier to be interesting.
- Paul uses military imagery elsewhere to describe believers, so this is not a unique occurrence; but describing Epaphroditus as a soldier is most appropriate when we look at what he did. He was, according to v.25, a messenger sent to Paul from Philippi. He had made the same 1,200 mile journey Paul was about to send Timothy on.
- But something happened to him. He came down with a serious illness. In fact, so serious was this sickness that he was described as being near death. Now Paul does not specifically say how he came down with this illness. But I think we have a clue in v.30: for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
- What is this talking about? Well, when we look at vv.10-18 of chapter 4 we notice that the Philippians wanted to send Paul resources and gifts, but were not able to. Why not? Because no one was willing to make the 1,200 mile journey. That is, until Epaphroditus came along. He made the trip on behalf of the Philippians so that Paul could receive the fruits of their generosity.
- Just as a soldier exhibits self-denial on behalf of his country, Epaphroditus displayed that same quality on behalf of the Philippian church. And I think it’s safe to assume that he became ill during that long journey. Because Paul writes that Epaphroditus risked his life in order bring Paul resources from the Philippians – their “service to him”.
- So his being a model of self-denial is clear. But also notice his amazing concern for the church.
- Look at v.26: for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Here is a guy who has just recovered from a life threatening sickness and all he’s concerned about is that the Philippians aren’t worried about him and they know he is okay. This is amazing selflessness shown here.
- Well, what is the point of highlighting all of this? Paul just got done instructing us in v.12 of chapter 2 not to rely on men, but on God alone. Now he’s going on about these great men of the faith.
- Here is why we take note of these lives: the Lord wants us to honor such men. In v.29 Paul writes of Epaphroditus: So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ. And we can take that command to honor Epaphroditus and apply it to Paul and Timothy as well. So I want to close with two thoughts on how we honor these men. First:
HONOR SUCH MEN BY SHOWING THEM RESPECT
- You won’t honor anyone you don’t also respect. We develop respect for such great people of God by understanding the magnitude of their service and appreciating what they gave in service of Christ.
- Take note also that Paul says “honor such men”. There are other men and women, even in our lives today, who have given their entire lives to the ministry of the gospel. Pastors and missionaries all over the globe that we esteem highly because of their sacrifice. And finally:
HONOR SUCH MEN BY IMITATING THEIR BEHAVIOR
- In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul told the church: Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Though we do not ultimately rely on other men and women, we can mimic their behavior in so far as they follow Jesus Christ.
- In fact, it’s interesting that when Paul is describing Epaphroditus’ illness, he says that he “nearly died”. The Greek phrase there is μέχρι θανάτου, which means “unto death”. Epaphroditus was sick unto death. The exact same phrase is used in v.8 to describe Jesus becoming obedient to the point of death – Christ was obedient unto death: μέχρι θανάτου. Epaphroditus imitated his Savior in the most serious of ways: being willing to give his life.
- Now not all of us will be called to such an end as Polycarp. Not all of us will suffer a horrible illness as Epaphroditus did. Not all of us will be imprisoned for our faith as was the Apostle Paul. But all of us can imitate these men as they imitated Jesus Christ.
- We can be like Paul – willing to sacrifice joyfully for the gospel; like Timothy – fully devoted and faithful servants who can be trusted to serve not our own interests, but the interests of Christ and his church; and like Epaphroditus – denying ourselves for the good of others in the body.
- Look closely at what these men did; and you will find parallels in all of them to the life of Christ as described in vv.4-8 of this same chapter. Jesus himself looked not to his own interests, but to the interests of his Father and the need of his people. He was obedient unto death. And sacrificed himself willingly on the cross as his took away the sins of all who would ever believe. May we joyfully follow his example with all of our hearts.
