^2:19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you. ^2:20For there is no one here like him who will readily demonstrate his deep concern for you.¹⁸^2:21Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ. ^2:22But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel. ^2:23So I hope to send him as soon as I know more about my situation, ^2:24though I am confident in the Lord that I too will be coming to see you¹⁹ soon.

^2:25But for now²⁰ I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother,²¹ coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger²² and minister²³ to me in my need.²⁴

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Footnotes

18 Grk “For I have no one who is like-minded who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.”
19 The words “to see you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied, and are supplied in the translation for clarity.
20 Grk “But.” The temporal notion (“for now”) is implied in the epistolary aorist (“I have considered”), for Epaphroditus was dispatched with this letter to the Philippians.
21 Grk “my brother” instead of “For he is my brother.” Verse 25 constitutes one sentence in Greek, with “my brother …” functioning appositionally to “Epaphroditus.” The reason why Paul refers to Epaphroditus as his brother, coworker, fellow soldier, etc., is because he wants to build up Epaphroditus in the eyes of the Philippians, since Paul is sending him back instead of Timothy. This accent on Epaphroditus’ character and service is implied in the translation “For he is …”
22 Grk “apostle.”
23 The Greek word translated “minister” here is λειτουργός (leitourgos).
24 Grk “servant of my need.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.

But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need—

NLTNew Living Translation

If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be encouraged when I know your circumstances. For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely be concerned about your circumstances. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his proven character, that like a child with a father he served with me for the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see my circumstances. And I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will arrive shortly also.

But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your messenger and servant of my need,

KJV 1900King James Version

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

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