May 4: Appreciate

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

The word “appreciate” has come into general usage in regard to the value of a house. If it goes up in value, we say it appreciates. However, to appreciate someone or something is to esteem highly the person or thing. In developing human relationships we much go one step farther. If we appreciate someone we must communicate the feeling to the object of the appreciation. It may be just a simple statement such as, “I surely do appreciate you.” In this way we build rewarding relationships. This will be our central theme for four successive studies.

In the person of Timothy, Paul expressed appreciation for a proven co-worker (2:19-22). His love for Timothy stands out even in a casual reading. Paul saw in him a person whose mind was most like Paul’s in desiring to care for the church (v. 20). Too many people, he thought, were more concerned with benefits for themselves with little awareness of the things of Christ. The church was fully aware of Timothy’s serving with Paul almost as a son-father relationship.

And well he might. Timothy apparently lived in Philippi with his godly mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (2 Tim. 1:5). The Bible states that he had known the Holy Scriptures from childhood (3:15). When Paul visited Derbe and Lystra (Acts 16:1), Timothy was well spoken of by the brethren. At what point Timothy became a believer is not stated, but Paul addressed him as “son Timothy,” (1 Tim. 1:18) and as “a beloved son” (2 Tim. 1:2). These affectionate terms may indicate Paul’s mentoring Timothy in Christian beliefs.

Young Timothy stood out so powerfully that Paul enlisted him at Lystra and Derbe to accompany him on further missionary journeys (Acts 16:3). What a powerful impression for Christ Paul made on Timothy. The young man apparently was present at Philippi when Lydia was converted and convinced the missionary team to lodge at her house (Acts 16:15, 16). If so, he witnessed the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, and the salvation of the Philippian jailer (vv. 25-31). He joined Paul on missionary work in Beria (Acts 17:14), Corinth (18:5), and Ephesus (19:22). In six of Paul’s letters Timothy is listed as a co-author, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Paul addressed two letters, 1 and 2 Timothy, to him. Paul made the Christian community aware of his appreciation of Timothy.

Paul also expressed his appreciation of Epaphroditus as a compassionate minister (vv. 25-30). All we know about Epaphroditus is given in Philippians 2:25 and 4:12. We can gain some insight from his name, common at that time, which meant “favored by Aphrodite or Venus.” Its use pointed to the false religion of that day. It was also a name he had to live down once he became a follower of Jesus Christ.

Paul encountered him in the ministry and began his mentoring of him as with Timothy. Paul referred to him as his brother, hinting at the close relationship between the two. But Epaphroditus was also esteemed as a fellow worker and fellow soldier, hints at his personal work ethic and defense of the Gospel. In reference to the church, he functioned as their messenger to Paul who also ministered to his need. He became distressed at their concerns when they learned Epaphroditus had lost his health for the cause of Christ.

Finally, Paul voiced his thanks to them for being a supportive church (4:15-18). He thanked them for their again sending aid to him in his ministry, even as they sent to him twice in Thessalonica. At this point, we Southern Baptists can thank God for guiding the founding fathers of the SBC for pioneering in a unique method of supporting missions both home and abroad. By funding those efforts through the Cooperative Program, we accomplish three goals. First, we follow the biblical model, exemplified by the Philippian believers, of churches, not individuals as the basic source. Unlike the so-called “faith” missionaries who depend on individuals for their support, our missionaries are assured of the support of about 45,000 churches. Second, our method is efficient, not having competing boards do the work. Third, any offerings to meet special needs any place in the world can be ministered at no additional cost by Southern Baptist missionaries already in place.