For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

2:23   I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,

Let’s remember that Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians from a Roman jail. Many consider Paul’s reference to “how it will go with me” as to his future trial. Paul is facing a trial that will determine his future, a life or death decision that he is fully aware of. Even in the midst of these circumstances, he writes letters to churches (Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon) that need his counsel. These letters have influenced generations of believers and Paul’s ministry is alive an well even within our own day.

Let us also consider that it seems in every verse that Paul writes to this church, his concern for others rises to the surface and overrides his own situation.

From the famous verse of Phil 1:24

Philippians 1:24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

to the well known passage at the beginning of Chapter 2, Paul is looking to the needs of others.

Such is the case in this verse. When Paul is writing this short verse, he speaks of a condition upon which he will send Timothy. He anticipates sending Timothy, even saying he hopes to send him to them. One condition though, and that is how it will go for him. When Paul describes how this decision on sending Timothy will be made, he uses the Greek word ἀφοράω (aphoráō) which may be understood as the action of “looking away from something to see something else”

So in my simple mind, the verse may be expanded to…

…as soon as I “look away from something to see something else” how it will go with me.

What is Paul looking away from when he pens this thought? Might it be his concern for the Philippians that he is looking away from, and considering his circumstance to make plans. Consider that even in looking at his plight, it is to plan on how the Philippians may benefit from receiving Timothy.

Does Paul not look at his own situation unless it is in order to benefit someone else? Is his life and death situation not important enough to dwell in, to contemplate and review constantly in his own thoughts? Apparently, at this point in Paul’s life, he is concentrating on others, and he is experiencing joy.

Might we learn from this short verse a powerful truth. Although somewhat hidden under the translation of a tiny word “see”, it is an obvious truth throughout this great epistle, that looking to the needs of Jesus and others is the path to joy in the end.

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