“Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.”
For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services you could not perform — Epaphroditus (introduced here, named in 4:18) nearly died (noseo... thaneimi, became seriously ill, near death) in service. 'Risking his life' (paraboleuomai, gambling with life) suggests deliberate hazard for gospel work. 'For those services you could not perform' (anaplērōsai to hysterēma tēs leitourgias hymōn) shows his labor substitutes for the Philippians' ministry to Paul. Leitorgia (service) is cultic language: his work is sacred offering. The Philippians' gift (4:18) is now shown as embodied in his person.
Church Fathers on Philippians 2:23
“You know the proof of him, that as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Gospel.” And that I speak not at random, “you yourselves,” he says, “know, that as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Gospel.” He presents then Timothy to them, and with reason, that he might enjoy much honor from them. This too he does when he writes to the Corinthians, and he says, “Let no man therefore despise him, for he works the work…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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