But you know the proof of him, that as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.
Parallel Translations
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But you know the proof of him, that as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.
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Ye knowe the proffe of him howe that as a sone with the father so with me bestowed he his labour apon the gospell.
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But yee knowe the proofe of him, that as a sonne with the father, hee hath serued with me in the Gospel.
Cross-references (12)
Passages linked to Philippians 2:22 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Corinthians 4:17 Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
- 2 Corinthians 2:9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.
- 1 Timothy 1:2 to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 2 Timothy 1:2 to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Acts 16:3-12 Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn’t allow them. Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them. Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
- 2 Corinthians 8:22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.
- 1 Timothy 1:18 I commit this instruction to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which were given to you before, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
- 2 Corinthians 8:8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
- 2 Corinthians 8:24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
- Philippians 2:20 For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.
- 2 Timothy 3:10 But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,
- Titus 1:4 to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 22 But the proof. It is literally, ye know…
22 But the proof. It is literally, ye know the proof of him, unless you prefer to understand it in the imperative mood, know ye; (for there had scarcely been opportunity during that short time to make trial,) but this is not of great moment. What is chiefly to be noticed is, that he furnishes Timothy with an attestation of fidelity and modesty. In evidence of his fidelity, he declares, that he had served with him in the gospel, for such a connection was a token of true sincerity. In evidence of his modesty, he states, that he had submitted to him as to a father. It is not to be wondered, that this virtue is expressly commended by Paul, for it has in all ages been rare. At the present day, where will you find one among the young that will give way to his seniors, even in the smallest thing? to such an extent does impertinence triumph and prevail in the present age! In this passage, as in many others, we see how diligently Paul makes it his aim to put honor upon pious ministers, and that not so much for their own sakes, as on the ground of its being for the advantage of the whole Church, that such persons should be loved and honored, and possess the highest authority.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 22 But ye know the proof of him, that,…
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
Ver. 22. As a son with the father] Happy son in such a father, 1Ti 1:2. If Jason the Thessalian held himself so happy in his tutor Chiron (Pindar. lib. 4, Pyth.), Alexander in his Aristotle, Paul in his Gamaliel, how much more was Timothy in Paul the aged, Phm 1:9, whose not only doctrine but manner of life he knew fully and followed faithfully, 2Ti 3:10, as a diligent disciple!
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain However others were found in some respects defective to…
However others were found in some respects defective to the service of Christ, yet he appeals to their experience of the integrity and fidelity of Timothy in conjunction with himself, when he preached the gospel amongst them, and afterwards, Act 16:1; 17:15; 18:5; Act 19:22; 20:4; which he amplifies and illustrates by a simile, when he saith,
as a son with the father; q.d. Just as a genuine and obedient son is wont to retain the spirit of his father that begat him: and Paul doth metaphorically call Timothy his own son, begotten by the gospel, 1Ti 1:2, his dearly beloved Son, 2Ti 1:2, and faithful in the Lord, 1Co 4:17, likeminded with himself, Phi 2:20; with whom he had not only preached, but served in the gospel, Phi 1:1, given himself wholly to the thing. He doth not say, served me, or under me, but with me in the gospel, i.e. to advance the glory of Christ in promoting the gospel, by helping with Paul, and labouring, working the work of the Lord, as Paul also did, and being sometime a sufferer under restraint for that service, as Paul himself, Heb 13:23, for the gospel, which is not a domination, but ministration, wherein this great apostle owns Timothy as his fellow minister.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Him therefore I hope to send presently,.... For the…
Him therefore I hope to send presently,.... For the reasons now given:
so soon as I shall see how it will go with me; whether he should be released from his bonds or not; whether he should live or die; whether he should be set free, or be called to suffer martyrdom for the sake of Christ; for he expected, that the matter would be determined in a very short time, when, be it at it would, Timothy would be spared.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain As a son with his father - He uses…
As a son with his father - He uses an elegant peculiarity of phrase, speaking partly as of a son, partly as of a fellowlabourer.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 22. Ye know the proof of him, that,…
Verse 22. Ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me] The Philippians had full proof of the affectionate attachment of Timothy to Paul, for he had laboured with him there, as we learn from Ac 16:1-3; Ac 17:14; and we find from what is said here that Timothy was not a servant to the apostle, but that he had served with him. They both laboured together in the word and doctrine; for apostles and Christian bishops, in those times, laboured as hard as their deacons. There were no sinecures; every one was a labourer, every labourer had his work, and every workman had his wages.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Php 2:22-24. But ye know the proof of him…
Php 2:22-24. But ye know the proof of him — You know what experience you and I have had of him, who was with me, as well as Silas, in that memorable visit which I first made you, Act 16:1-12. You then saw that as a son with the father — He uses an elegant peculiarity of phrase, speaking partly as of a son, partly as of a fellow-labourer; he served with me in the gospel — Neglecting no occasion of doing, in the most affectionate manner, whatever might lighten either my labours or my sufferings. Here, as Doddridge observes, “we learn the kind of intercourse which should subsist between the younger and more aged ministers of the gospel. The young ought to listen to the counsels of the aged, with the respect which is due from a son to a father; and the aged ought to love and patronise the young, and study, by their instruction and example, to qualify them for supplying their places in the church when they are gone.” Him therefore I hope to send — If, as has been supposed on Php 2:20, Aristarchus, Titus, and Luke were absent at this time from Rome, Timothy’s presence with the apostle was the more necessary. But as he daily looked for their return, he hoped to be able to send him to Philippi, as soon as he should know how it would go with him with respect to his imprisonment, or what issue his appeal to Cesar would have. But I trust in the Lord — That in mercy he will deliver me; and I shall shortly come to you myself — This he seems to have added, lest the Philippians might have been too much afflicted by what he had said concerning his death, Php 2:17.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain But ye know the proof of him - You…
But ye know the proof of him - You have had evidence among yourselves how faithfully Timothy devoted himself to the promotion of the gospel, and how constantly he served with me. This proves that Timothy was with Paul when he was at Philippi.
As a son with the father - Manifesting the same spirit toward me which a son does toward a father, and evincing the same interest in my work. He did all he could do to aid me, and lighten my labors and sufferings.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Rare praise (Neh 7:2).
Rare praise (Neh 7:2).
as a son with the father--Translate, "as a child (serveth) a father."
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served with me--When we might expect the sentence to run thus. "As a child serveth a father, so he served me"; he changes it to "served with me" in modesty; as Christians are not servants TO one another," but servants of God WITH one another (compare Phi 3:17).
in the gospel--Greek, "unto," or "for the Gospel."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 22. The proof—Timothy’s conduct under their own eyes during…
22. The proof—Timothy’s conduct under their own eyes during his six years pastorate among them, (Acts xvi,) fully showed them his true character, especially in his joint service with the apostle to the cause of the gospel.
As a son… father—Lovingly, devotedly, and as if working for himself, did he give himself to his spiritual father for the work of Christ.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 22. the proof of him] The test of him;…
22. the proof of him] The test of him; the practical evidence of what he is. This they “knew,” by eyewitness at Philippi.
as a son with the father] Better, as child with father. The Greek word rendered “child” is a tender one. See above on Php_2:15. For St Paul’s paternal love for Timothy cp. 2Ti_1:2, and that whole Epistle.
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he hath served with me] More precisely, with me (slightly emphatic, suggesting the speciality of his devotion in Christ to Paul) he did bondservice. The reference is to the labours of Timothy (gathered up by the aorist into one recollection) at Philippi. See above, on Php_1:1, note 2.—Grammatically, we might render, “with me he accepted bond-service”; with a reference to Timothy’s first dedication to missionary work under St Paul, Act_16:1-3. But he evidently refers to their own observation of Timothy and so to a later period.
in the gospel] Lit., “unto the Gospel”; well paraphrased by R.V., in furtherance of the Gospel. See note on Php_1:5 above.—For “the Gospel” in the sense of “the work of the Gospel” cp. below, Php_4:3.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (22) The proof of him.—The allusion is justified by…
(22) The proof of him.—The allusion is justified by their intimate personal knowledge. Timothy was at Philippi with St. Paul on his first visit (Act_16:12-40); we find him sent to Thessalonica shortly after (1Th_3:2), and he probably then paid a second visit to Philippi; from Ephesus (Act_19:22) he is sent again to Macedonia; and with St. Paul on the way to Jerusalem he was at Philippi once more (Act_20:4-6).
As a son with the father.—The original construction is curiously broken here. It runs, As a son to a father—as though St. Paul was going to speak of Timothy’s dutiful ministration and following of his example; but then the sentence changes, in a characteristic humility, and makes Timothy and himself merely fellow-servants—he served with me in the gospel. If we may judge of Timothy’s character from the general character of St. Paul’s directions to him in the Pastoral Epistles, and especially the significant exhortation, “Let no man despise thy youth, (1Ti_4:12), it would seem to have been gentle and warm-hearted rather than commanding. Hence, perhaps, the necessity for this singularly emphatic commendation of him. (Comp. 1Co_16:10, “If Timotheus come, see that he be with you without fear.”)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain But ye know the proof of him. Ye recognize…
But ye know the proof of him. Ye recognize from your former experience (Ac 16) his approved character. That, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel; translate, with R.V, that, as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel. Served edouleusen); as a slave. He was both a son and servant to St. Paul, and also a fellow-worker with St. Paul, both being slaves of God.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain But ye know the proof of him
Php_2:22
But ye know the proof of him
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Timothy
I.
His filial attachment to paul.
II. His cooperation in the service of the gospel.
III. His tried and faithful character. (J. Lyth, D. D.)
Proof of character
I. Is required--
1. In every station.
2. Particularly in a minister.
II. Is given--
1. By faithful service.
2. Willing and childlike submission to superiors.
III. Brings honour.
1. It commands observation.
2. Wins confidence.
3. Ensures success. (J. Lyth, D. D.)
As a son with the father--
A lesson
I. To younger ministers to honour and reverence their ancients, and have them for an example.
II. To youths to have proper regard to their elders (1Ti_5:1-2; Lev_19:32).
III. To children to obey their parents.
IV. To spiritual children in regard to those who have begotten them in the faith of Christ Jesus (Phm_1:10; 1Co_4:15; Gal_4:19). (H. Airay, D. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 22. Ye know the proof of him. You have…
22. Ye know the proof of him. You have seen him and know him. Timothy had more than once visited Philippi before this (2 Cor. 2:9; 13:3). As a son with a father. Timothy was his convert, and showed him a tender reverence.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 as a child serves his father, so he served…
as a child serves his father, so he served with me
Paul speaks of Timothy, who served Christ with Paul, as if he were a child serving his father. Paul is emphasizing the close father-son relationship he has with Timothy in serving Christ. (See: Simile)
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in the gospel
Here "the gospel" stands for the activity of telling people about Jesus. AT: "in telling people about the gospel" (See: Metonymy)
I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon
"I am sure, if it is the Lord's will, that I will also come soon"
translationWords
servant
good news
confidence
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.