Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

μεv ... δε in verses 23 and 24 can be translated: "On the one hand, I hope to send Timothy ... on the
other hand, I am confident of coming myself." (P.T. O'Brien) The contingency refers to the results of
Paul's trial (A. Deissman), due to the metaphorical use of περι, which can also mean "my affairs."
(C.F.D. Moule) At the present day, where will you find one among the young that will give way to
his seniors, even in the smallest thing? To such an extent does impertinence triumph and prevail in
the present age! (J. Calvin)
Philp. 2:23 Therefore (inferential), on the one hand (contrast
particle), I expect (evlpi,zw, PAI1S, Futuristic) to send (pe,mpw,
AAInf., Ingressive, Inf. as Dir. Obj. of Verb) this one (Acc. Dir.
Obj.; Timothy as interim pastor or representative for Paul)
immediately (Adv. of Time; with an element of contingency), as
soon as (indefinite temporal clause) I am able to see (avfora,w,
AASubj.1S, Ingressive, Potential; ascertain where the action is
expected to take place in the future) the things (Acc. Dir. Obj.)
concerning me (Gen. Root Idea, reflexive pronoun which expresses
the Dir. Obj.; "my status quo");
WHO Philippians 2:23 tou/ton me.n ou=n evlpi,zw pe,myai w`j a'n avfi,dw ta. peri. evme. evxauth/j\
VUL Philippians 2:23 hunc igitur spero me mittere mox ut videro quae circa me sunt
LWB Philp. 2:24 But on the other hand, I have complete confidence in the Lord [occupation
with Christ] that I myself will also return to you soon.
KW
Philp. 2:24 But I have come to a settled conviction, which conviction is in the Lord, that I
also myself shall come shortly.
KJV Philippians 2:24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS
Paul has complete confidence in the Lord (Intensive Perfect tense) that he will return (Predictive
Future tense) to the Philippians soon. He doesn’t know God’s timing, but he is occupied with
Christ and is therefore confident in his ultimate future. But he still intends to send Timothy since
it could be months before he is released. If the “men … de” construction is translated as “on the
one hand, but on the other hand,” it seems Paul has more of a “settled persuasion” than he does
absolute confidence. There is obviously an unknown element in his travel plans – the sovereign
plan of God may have another purpose for him than the one he anticipates.
REVELANT OPINIONS
In the same spirit and sphere of confidence, he gives them to understand that, while thus writing of
the mission of Timothy, he does not forget his promise to pay them a visit himself, on his liberation.