Unbound: Freedom in a Digital WorldSample

These are the passages we tend to read quickly through to check them as done so we can move on to the more quotable and interesting passages. This is a short passage about Timothy. Most of us have heard of him. A couple of Paul’s letters were actually directed specifically towards him. According to Acts 16, Timothy was from Lystra, located in Asia Minor. He was born of a Jewish mother who became a Christ follower. His dad was Greek, which means that he came from a mixed background. He was not circumcised. Yet, he was raised in the Jewish faith by his pious mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (2 Tim 1:5). On their second journey through Lystra, Paul and Silas picked up Timothy as a traveling companion. After many years and journeys together, Paul came to love and trust Timothy as his son.

Then there is the guy with a name we probably don’t know, Epaphroditus. Little is known about Epaphroditus’s upbringing or heritage. It seems most likely that he is from Philippi. The name Epaphroditus was a common name in the first century AD. It is Greek, deriving from the name of the deity Aphrodite, who was the Goddess of love. Epaphroditus is most likely from a Greek family and is possibly a Roman citizen.

Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippians to deliver a financial gift to Paul. He served as a delegate on behalf of the church and was instructed to also gather an update on Paul’s condition. On this journey, he fell severely ill and nearly died. Still, he managed to deliver the gift. Having now recovered from his illness, Paul is sending him back with this letter to the relief of the church in Philippi.

Unnoticed by the modern reader in this text is the issue of honor and shame. Honor is at stake for the Philippian Christians. In Greco-Roman culture, a person's honor was of the highest value, not only to themselves but also to their family, friends, and associates. Paul’s imprisonment would have been seen as shameful. Those who had given their lives to Jesus through his preaching would have felt the social shame of Paul’s imprisonment.

Likewise, in Roman prisons, the families of the prisoners were responsible for taking care of them by providing food and clothing. Not only was it shameful that Paul was in prison, but it would be even more shameful for both Paul and the Philippian Christians if his needs weren’t met while he was in prison.

So Epaphroditus’s task of delivering aid to Paul was significant. Ben Witherington describes this well: “Epaphroditus felt honor-bound to get to Paul, even at great personal risk, and Paul wants the audience to know, even though Epaphroditus was sent back quickly to them, that he accomplished his mission and should be honored for valorous service.”

Paul’s honor in prison was tied to the work and generosity of others. We often think of him as this type of lone-wolf missionary traveling the dangerous road of God all alone, but he never thought of himself like that. Timothy was like a son, and Epaphroditus was a “co-worker” and “fellow-soldier.”

So often today, we feel as if we are supposed to blaze our own path through this world. We are supposed to “go on our own way,” but the Christian journey is one of interdependence. We carry our honor together in the community as we are dependent upon one another. God created us and redeemed us for an interdependent life.

Practice interdependence today by using a google doc or notes to make a list of all the people that you are dependent upon for day-to-day life. Start with close family, but don't neglect the trashmen, UPS drivers, and others. Thank God in prayer for each of these people.