Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ But I hope, ^[a]in the Lord Jesus, to ^(A)send ^(B)Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. ²⁰ For I have no one else ^(C)of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all ^(D)seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know ^(E)of his proven character, that ^(F)he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel ^(G)like a child serving his father. ^23 (H)Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; ²⁴ and ^(I)I trust in the Lord that I myself will also be coming shortly. ²⁵ But I thought it necessary to send to you ^(J)Epaphroditus, my brother and ^(K)fellow worker and ^(L)fellow soldier, who is also your ^[b](M)messenger and ^(N)minister to my need, ²⁶ because he was longing ^[c]for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. ^29 (O)Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and ^(P)hold people like him in high regard, ³⁰ because he came close to death ^[d](Q)for the work of Christ, risking his life to ^(R)compensate ^[e]for your absence in your service to me.