“Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.”
For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare — isopsychos (equal-souled, like-minded) Timothy is unparalleled in genuine concern (genuinely = gnēsiōs, from proper stock). 'Welfare' (ta peri hymōn, the things concerning you) is the Philippians' well-being. Timothy's concern is not performative but rooted in his inner nature. This contrasts sharply with those who 'seek their own interests' (1:21): Timothy exemplifies other-orientation. He is living proof that the kenotic paradigm is not impossible.
Church Fathers on Philippians 2:17
The admonitions which we give ought to be accompanied with commendations; for thus they become even welcome, when we refer those whom we admonish to that measure of zeal which they have themselves exhibited; as Paul, for instance, did here; and observe with what singular discretion; “So then, my beloved,” he says; he did not say simply “be obedient,” not until he had first commended them in these words, “even as you have always obeyed”; i.e. “it is not other men, but your own…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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