 |  |
Further, Epaphroditus was a link between the apostle and the Philippians, for he was
also "your messenger". When the apostle urged the Philippians to follow his example he
could use the word "become fellow-imitators of me" (3: 17). The emphasis upon
fellowship in this epistle is worth noticing:--
Sugkoinõnēsas.
"To have fellowship" (4: 4).
Sugkoinõnõs.
"Fellow partakers" (1: 7).
Sugchairos.
"To rejoice together" (2: 17, 18).
Sunzugos.
"Yoke fellow" (4: 3).
Sullambano.
"Assist together" (4: 3).
Summimētas.
"Fellow imitators" (3: 17).
Summorphos.
"Conformity" (3: 21).
Summorphizomai.
"To be conformed" (3: 10).
Sumpsuchos.
"Equal soul" (i1. 2).
Sunstratiõtēs.
"Fellow soldier" (2: 25).
Here is fellowship in suffering, in labour, in joy and in spirit, here the apostle and the
Philippians together could press on the pathway of victory.
We now pause for a moment to remember that in the correspondence observable
between the four prison epistles II Timothy echoed Philippians. Let us turn to that
epistle to learn of any charge that may have come over the external circumstances of the
subject of the Prize. Let us begin with a further tabulation of the words which introduce
the idea of fellowship:--
Suzaõ.
"To live together" (II Tim. 2: 11).
Sunapothnēskõ.
"To die together" (II Tim. 2: 11).
Here we have two references only, which have nothing to do with the subject, as they
refer to the position of the believer by grace, without reference to the question of the
subsequent faithfulness, service or reward. It is evident that the atmosphere of
II Timothy is essentially different from that of Philippians. Here isolation and a solitary
fight is more the condition. Let us trace this as we did the fellowship in Philippians.
First of all there are no bishops and deacons addressed. While rule characterizes the
first epistle to Timothy, with its reference to behaviour in the church of God, bishops,
deacons, the place of women in the assembly, widows, etc., ruin (as far as corporate
testimony is concerned) is the characteristic of the second epistle:--
"This thou knowest, that ALL they which are in ASIA be turned away from me"
(1: 15).
The house of Onesiphorous stands out as a blessed exception (II Tim. 1: 16-18).
Timothy also must take this separate stand:--
"If a man therefore purge himself from these (false teachers), he shall be a vessel unto
honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work"
(II Tim. 2: 21).