Philippians 2:19-30

Contemporary English Version

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ I want to be encouraged by news about you. So I hope the Lord Jesus will soon let me send Timothy to you. ²⁰ I don't have anyone else who cares about you as much as he does. ²¹ The others think only about what interests them and not about what concerns Christ Jesus. ²² But you know what kind of person Timothy is. He has worked with me like a son in spreading the good news. ²³ I hope to send him to you, as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me. ²⁴ And I feel sure the Lord will also let me come soon.

²⁵ I think I ought to send my dear friend Epaphroditus back to you. He is a follower and a worker and a soldier of the Lord, just as I am. You sent him to look after me, ²⁶ but now he is eager to see you. He is worried, because you heard he was sick. ²⁷ In fact, he was very sick and almost died. But God was kind to him, and also to me, and he kept me from being burdened down with sorrow.

²⁸ Now I am more eager than ever to send Epaphroditus back again. You will be glad to see him, and I won't have to worry any longer. ²⁹ Be sure to give him a cheerful welcome, just as people who serve the Lord deserve. ³⁰ He almost died working for Christ, and he risked his own life to do for me what you could not.