Philippians 2:23
in Philippians 2So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Him therefore I hope to send forthwith, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me:
KJV
Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
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This verse in Philippians 2
Commentary
11 notes on this verseEven here he does not expressly announce that he will come but makes this depend on the providence of God. And clearly he has not yet wholly escaped his former peril.
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
as soon as I see what happens with me
Timothy's visit waits on the verdict in Paul's case. Barnes notes the uncertainty whether he would be condemned or released, and records the common view that he was released at the first trial. Theodoret observes that Paul makes his plans depend on the providence of God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Him therefore," he says, "I hope to send forthwith, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me," that is, when I see where I stand, and what end my affairs will have.
The Medieval Church2 voices
When I see what outcome my affairs will have, I will immediately, that is, without delay, send him.
I hope therefore to send him, so solicitous for you and so dear to me. But why not at once? Because it is otherwise with Christ and with the other saints. In Christ was fulness of grace; hence He always had knowledge of all things; …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He was now a prisoner, and did not know what would be the issue; but, according as it turned, he would dispose of Timothy. Nay, he hoped to come himself (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
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.
3 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 Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
So soon as I shall see how it will go with me - Paul was a prisoner at Rome, and there was not a little uncertainty whether he would be condemned or acquitted. He was, it is commonly supposed, in fact released on the first trial; 2Ti 4:16. He now felt that he would soon be able to send Timothy to them at any rate.
How it will go with me - The apostle was now in captivity; his trial appears to have been approaching, and of its issue he was doubtful; though he seems to have had a general persuasion that he should be spared, see Php 2:19, Php 2:24.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τοῦτον | touton | Him | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| ἐλπίζω | elpizo | I hope | G1679 → | |
| πέμψαι | pempsai | to send | G3992 → | 79 times |
| ὡς | hos | when | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἂν | an | maybe | G302 → | |
| ἀφίδω | aphido | I may have seen | G872 → | |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| ἐμὲ | eme | me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ἐξαυτῆς· | exautes | immediately; | G1824 → |
τοῦτονHim
toutonG3778 →1381 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
ἐλπίζωI hope
elpizoG1679 →
πέμψαιto send
pempsaiG3992 →79 times
ὡςwhen
hosG5613 →500 times
ἂνmaybe
anG302 →
ἀφίδωI may have seen
aphidoG872 →
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
ἐμὲme myself
emeG1473 →839 times
ἐξαυτῆς·immediately;
exautesG1824 →
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 2:19Now 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.
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…
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6–8
But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to…
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2
We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
- Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
- Philemon 1:5–7
because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
- 1 Corinthians 4:17
Through
1 Samuel 22:3From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.”
it leads to
- Ruth 1:1–4
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land…
- 1 Samuel 3:18
So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”
- Genesis 47:11
So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
- Ruth 1:1–4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies22
About Philippians

This page draws on 9 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); 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 2.23-24; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.
