腓立比書2:19-24

2:19 我靠主耶穌指望快打發提摩太去見你們，叫我知道你們的事，心裡就得著安慰。
2:20 因為我沒有別人與我同心，實在掛念你們的事。
2:21 別人都求自己的事，並不求耶穌基督的事。
2:22 但你們知道提摩太的明證；他興旺福音，與我同勞，待我像兒子待父親一樣。
2:23 所以，我一看出我的事要怎樣了結，就盼望立刻打發他去；
2:24 但我靠著主自信我也必快去。

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²² 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. ²³ I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

***************

    推薦提摩太給腓立比教會的弟兄姊妹，因為他將要代表保羅，去見腓立比教會的弟兄姊妹。而提摩太是怎樣的人呢？保羅特別說到：「他興旺福音，與我同勞，待我像兒子待父親一樣。」

    但是他之所以派遣提摩太，是因為他想念腓立比教會的弟兄姊妹，又無法親自去，只好這樣做。然而保羅為了不讓他們失望，所以宣告：「但我靠著主自信我也必快去。」

    當然將來如何只有上帝知道，但是保羅實在是關心腓立比教會的弟兄姊妹。教會牧者更是要像保羅一般愛自己所牧養的教會，常常關心代禱。