Paul and Timothy

It would seem that this posting is repetitious, but I think there is more to unravel with this part of Philippians 1:1 ... Paul and Timothy. I have wondered why Timothy was mentioned here if he was not the author of this epistle. Here are a couple of thoughts that I gleaned from The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters ...

• Sometimes a greeting will not only contain the author but his coworkers.
• Timothy was a significant part of the beginnings of the church in Philippi. I haven't had time to explore this much, but I'm assuming that Timothy was with him when he wrote the letter, otherwise it wouldn't make much sense to mention him. But I could be wrong and would love for someone out there to set me straight if I am. (Interestingly enough, there is debate among scholars as to when this letter was written - from which imprisonment. The most logical conclusion seems to be during his Roman imprisonment recorded in Acts 28.)
• The final suggestion was that perhaps Timothy assisted with the letter in some way. Perhaps he was even Paul's scribe. No one knows for sure, and although it is interesting to think about, it's not a life-changing discovery.

Paul not only identifies himself and his companion, but he describes in very simple terms who they are - bondservants of Jesus Christ. Paul generally uses either this term or apostle when writing his letters. The literal translation of bondservant is slave. The Greek word for slave (doulos) and the Greek word for servant (diakonos) are very similar in meaning and are sometimes used interchangeably. There are many implications regarding this word, but in essence, if one is subject to another in a slave/master relationship, there is a loss of any sort of autonomy on behalf of the slave. He is in complete and exclusive subjection to his master. Paul (and Timothy for all intents and purposes) has this kind of relationship with Jesus and as you read on in the book, you'll discover he takes joy in serving his master - there is nothing else he'd rather do.

Let me ask you a question ... do you have this kind of relationship with Jesus? Are you exclusively His? Ask God to search your heart and reveal if there is a division of devotion. We are tossed to and fro in this world and enticed in a moment's notice to be unfaithful to our Master. We must continually renew our minds in the Word because our minds are constantly bombarded by the world.

There's a passage in the OT about a slave and master. "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever" (Exodus 21:2-6). There's a little chorus that was written from this but speaking of our servant relationship to God. I hope this encourages you wherever you are ...

Pierce my ear, Oh Lord, my God,
Take me to your door this day;
I will serve no other God,
Lord, I’m here to stay.
For you have paid a price for me.
With your blood you ransomed me;
I will serve you eternally,
A free man I’ll never be.