Philippians 2:20
in Philippians 2I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For I have no man likeminded, who will care truly for your state.
KJV
For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
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This verse in Philippians 2
Commentary
11 notes on this verseFor I have no man like-minded - None of all my fellow helpers in the Gospel have the same zeal and affectionate concern for your prosperity in every respect as he has. He is ισοψυχος· of the same soul; a man after my own heart.
This site's exposition
to send Timotheus shortly
on Philippians 2:19-24
Timothy's commendation is a portrait of the mind of verse 5 in a living man: no man likeminded, one who will naturally care for their state while all seek their own. As a son with the father he hath served with me puts the proof in shared labor, the Philippians having watched it since Acts 16. Paul's I trust in the Lord, twice in these verses, holds his travel hopes with an open hand under the hearing's uncertainty.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
The praises of the blessed Timothy are true, but the divine apostle has pronounced them at this point both as a sign of his own affection for them (since he has sent to their assistance the only comforter of his soul) and as an exhortation …
At the same time too, he honors them by sending Timothy. "What sayest thou? dost thou send Timothy? and wherefore?" Because "I have no one likeminded"; that is, none of those whose care is like mine, none who "will care truly for you." Had he then no one of those who were with him? No one likeminded, that is, who has yearnings and takes thought for you as I do. No one would lightly choose, he means, to make so long a journey for this purpose. Timothy is the one with me who loves you. For I might have sent others, but there was none like him. This then is that likemindedness, to love the disciples as the master loves them. "Who," says he, "will truly care for you," that is, as a father.
But the apostle, writing to us with reference to the endurance of afflictions, says, "And this is of God, that it is given to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
The Medieval Church2 voices
I could, he says, have sent another, but there is no one equal to me in zeal except this one, that is, one who cares about your affairs as I do, who would sincerely, that is, in a fatherly manner, look after you. Notice how …
Then he praises him: first, on account of his love for them, and secondly, because of his devotion to the Apostle. Thus he makes a good mediator, because he loves them and he venerates him. He says: I am sending Timothy because I have no …
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For I have no man likeminded,.... With myself; as my soul, so the Syriac version renders it.
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 Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Compare De 13:6, "Thy friend which is as thine own soul" (Ps 55:14). Paul's second self. naturally--Greek, "genuinely"; "with sincere solicitude." A case wherein the Spirit of God so changed man's nature, that to be natural was with him to be spiritual: the great point to be aimed at.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For I have no man like-minded - Margin, “so dear unto me.” The Greek is, ἰσόψυχον isopsuchon - similar in mind, or like-minded. The meaning is, that there was no one with him who would feel so deep an interest in their welfare. Who will naturally care - The word rendered “naturally” - γνησίως gnēsiōs - means sincerely and the idea is, that he would regard their interests with a sincere tenderness and concern. He might be depended on to enter heartily into their concerns. This arose doubtless from the fact that he had been with them when the church was founded there, and that he felt a deeper interest in what related to the apostle Paul than any other man. Paul regarded Timothy as a son, and Paul’s sending him on such an occasion would evince the feelings of a father who should send a beloved son on an important message.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐδένα | oudena | No [one] | G3762 → | 232 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἔχω | echo | I have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἰσόψυχον, | isopsuchon | like-minded, | G2473 → | |
| ὅστις | hostis | who | G3748 → | 144 times |
| γνησίως | gnesios | genuinely | G1104 → | |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περὶ | peri | relative to | G4012 → | 332 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| μεριμνήσει· | merimnesei | will care for; | G3309 → |
οὐδέναNo [one]
oudenaG3762 →232 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἔχωI have
echoG2192 →707 times
ἰσόψυχον,like-minded,
isopsuchonG2473 →
ὅστιςwho
hostisG3748 →144 times
γνησίωςgenuinely
gnesiosG1104 →
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
περὶrelative to
periG4012 →332 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
μεριμνήσει·will care for;
merimneseiG3309 →
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
Philippians 2:2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
it leads to
- Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- 1 Peter 3:8–9
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united…
- 2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
- 3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
- Romans 12:16
Through
Philippians 2:22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 4:17
That 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…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 4:17
Through
John 12:6Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
it leads to
- John 13:29
Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
- Psalms 50:16–20
To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
- John 13:29
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Philippians
This page draws on 11 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); Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 4; 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; Theodoret of Cyrus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 2.19-22; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.