The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 96

presently incapR~i~t-~d him.self, but ~e had it ~n view to sen<l. Timothy as his special me~senger to I'l11hpp1. This was v.·1th the friendly object of knowing their date. Timothy w0uld be able to supplement the information concerning Paul's etate taken by EpRpbroditus, and in that way would cause them to be of good comfort. But he al.<o expect-cd to be of good comfo1t (he the sender, as well as they the receivers) when Timothy returned with news from Philippi. He does not seem to have henrd to any purpose (althm~gh there had been some ?om1:11unication) since the coming of Epaphro- d,t.us, and he did not expect to bear until Timothy brought him back word. He wns always pained, '1•,hen be was long in bearing from any of the Churches. It would put l,im out of pain, it would cause him to be of irood comfort, to have good news from Philippi. In our day it might have been sufficient to have sent a letter. We nre not accustomed t.o such long painful intervals, although we have had experience of them too, as when Livingst.one was lost in the centre of Africa. In view of the Philippian Church. being lost to Paul for a period at the least extending over a year, he hoped to sen_d Timothy to find them, as Stanley was sent to find Livingstone. It is much easier sending a letter; but more interest attaches to such special personal sending, and there is more satisfaction in the end. It was a richer manifestation of friendliness on the pa.rt of Paul, that he had it in bis heart to despatch his delegate. Would not hill prayers and good wishes go forth with him? Would he not then, as he hoped, rejoicing in freedom, see him on board ship at Ostia or Puteoli? Would he not send kind messages with him? Would he not remember him during his journey, and calculate the time of his arrival at Philippi, so as to be present in spirit with him and with them? And would not the coming of Timothy be a.n event of the utmost consequence to the Philippian Church? It would be looked forward to with the greatest interest. After the painful suspense on their side, his arrival would be hailed with manifestations of joy. Their thoughts would at once go back to him from whom he came? How was it with the veteran soldier of the cross? If liberation was the word that fell from Timothy's lips, what a thrill of joy would pass through the hearts of all I And then, as Timothy delivered himself of the messages with which he was laden to each, how would they drink in comfort, and think they he.d. ample compensation for their fight of afflictions! And then, as Timothy etood up and preached to them the old gospel, with a savour caught from long association with Paul in imprisonment, how enrnestly would they listen! how greedily appropriate its comfort I and how determinedly they would resolve to win the crown of faithfulness! And then, when the time came for Timothy to depart, how sorrowful they would feel! how they would send their con- gratulations to Paul, and their hope for his speedy coming among them I how this one and that one would wish it to be reported to Paul that they were determined to hold by Christ even t-0 death ! how some of them would go down to N eapolis and accompany him to the ship with tears ! And then, when the delegate was met by the apostle again at Ostia or Pukoli, or wherever he had meantime gone to Jabour, what comfort there would be in hearing all that Timothy had to report to him I 2. His fitness 1·elative to Paul. "For I have no man like-minded, who will care truly for your state. For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ." Tra!elling f~om Rome to Philippi would be attended with not a little inconvenience and nsk. With the wo~k associated with the journey, it would probably mean, to the person who_undertook 1t, an absence of months. It iB to be remembered that even emperors then did not charter their own vessels or have command of their own movements. Advantage had to be taken of C-O&Sting vessels engaged in commerce, and with delays at ports and with winds not always favourable; travelling by sea was generally slow. We read of a jourriey which Paul made from Philippi to the coast of Palestine in the seven weeks that intervened between the Passover and Peutecoat. A journey from either of the harbours of Rome to Philippi would not be so formidable an undertaking; but Scylla aud CLarybdi,; had to be passed, the point of Italy rounded, the Ionian Sea crossed, the Grecian archipelago passed through, and the lEgean Sea encountered as far as Neapolis. There would probably be waiting at some Grecian port for a vessel for Philippi. '!'here was always the danger of a storm by sea, and there was, especially to the mee- renger of the cross, the danger of persecution wherever he prosecuted his labours. 'l'i,e apo~tle was ill placed for fit men to undertake such a journey. '!'here was such a geIJeral disposition, even among those who professed to work for Christ, to plac, their OH, lL 1-30,) THE EPIS'fLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. 93