Philippians 2:22
in Philippians 2But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.
KJV
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
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This verse in Philippians 2
Commentary
12 notes on this verseBut ye know the proof of him,.... They had had an experiment of him, a trial of his spirit, and a proof of his gifts and ministry, when he was among them with the apostle at his first preaching the Gospel to them, to the conversion of Lydia, and of the jailer, and their households, which laid the foundation of a Gospel church state among them, see Act 16:
This site's exposition
to send Timothy to you soon
on Philippians 2:19-24
Timothy is the mind of verse 5 in a living man, one who will genuinely care for your needs. The Philippians had seen the proof since Acts 16: as a child with his father he has served with me.
This site's exposition
proven worth
The Philippians had seen Timothy's worth for themselves. Gill notes that he was with Paul when their church was founded in Acts 16, at the conversion of Lydia and the jailer. Clarke marks that Paul says Timothy served with him, as a son beside a father, sharing the work.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Ye know the proof of him, that as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Gospel." And that I speak not at random, "ye yourselves," he says, "know, that as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Gospel." He presents then Timothy to them, and with reason, that he might enjoy much honor from them. This too he does when he writes to the Corinthians, and he says, "Let no man therefore despise him, for he worketh the work of the Lord as I also do." This he said not as caring for him, but for those who receive him, that they might receive a great reward.
A commentator
Gaius Marius VictorinusEPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 2.22-24 · Written before 370.
proposed
He says "he served with me," not "he served me."
The Medieval Church2 voices
And if you would know how he has behaved in regard to me, I answer that, Timothy's worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel, i.e., as though he were a special son: "I sent …
You yourselves, he says, are witnesses that he served me as a son serves a father, not only in bodily needs, but, what is far more important, in the preaching of the Gospel. Therefore, as my son, he is worthy of honor, and as a …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
5 ), and was faithful in all that befel him. All the churches with whom he had acquaintance knew the proof of him. He was a man as good as he seemed to be; and served Christ so as to be acceptable to God, and approved of men, Rom. xiv.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He presses them largely to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, in conformity to the example of the Lord Jesus, the great pattern of humility and love. The great gospel precept passed upon us; that is, to love one another. This is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
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 labored with him there, as we learn from Act 16:1-3; Act 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 labored together in the word and doctrine; for apostles and Christian bishops, in those times, labored as hard as their deacons.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
"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 Php 3:17). in the gospel--Greek, "unto," or "for the Gospel."
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | But | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| δοκιμὴν | dokimen | the proven worth | G1382 → | |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| γινώσκετε, | ginoskete | you know, | G1097 → | 221 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| πατρὶ | patri | a father [with] | G3962 → | 410 times |
| τέκνον | teknon | a child | G5043 → | |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | 128 times |
| ἐμοὶ | emoi | me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ἐδούλευσεν | edouleusen | he has served | G1398 → | |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγέλιον. | euangelion | gospel. | G2098 → | 73 times |
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
δὲBut
deG1161 →2765 times
δοκιμὴνthe proven worth
dokimenG1382 →
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
γινώσκετε,you know,
ginosketeG1097 →221 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
πατρὶa father [with]
patriG3962 →410 times
τέκνονa child
teknonG5043 →
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →128 times
ἐμοὶme myself
emoiG1473 →839 times
ἐδούλευσενhe has served
edouleusenG1398 →
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγέλιον.gospel.
euangelionG2098 →73 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Timothy 1:2To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Titus 1:4
To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
- 1 Corinthians 4:14–17
I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
- Philippians 2:19–22
Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.
- Acts 16:1–3
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
- 2 Timothy 1:2
Through
1 Corinthians 4:17That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach…
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 16:10
If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am.
- 1 Corinthians 7:17
Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
- 1 Timothy 1:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies22
About Philippians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 2.22-24; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 9; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.