For I have no one else of kindred spirit: oudena gar echo (1SPAI) isopsuchon (Phil 2:2, 22; Ps 55:13; Pr 31:29; Jn 10:13; 12:6; 1Cor 1:10,11; Col 4:11; 1Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:5)

Have (2192) (echo) means to have or hold and so to possess. Paul possessed no one else like Timothy.

No one else (3762)  (oudeis from ou = absolutely not + dé = but + heis = one) is literally "but absolutely not one" or not even one. This is a very sad commentary. It reminds one of Paul's statements to Timothy shortly before he died...

You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. (see note 2Timothy 1:15)

Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (2Ti 4:10-note)

At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. (2Ti 4:16-note)

Kindred spirit (2473) (isopsuchos from ísos = equal + psuche = soul, mind, life) (cp isotimos) is literally one of equal soul, thus like–minded or of like character and activated by the same motives. The idea is having much in common with another. "Sharing the same feelings" (UBS). Latin Vulgate = "unanimus".

Timothy was then a man after Paul's own heart, one in thought, feeling, and spirit with Paul in love for the church. Mathematically speaking their "triangles were congruent." The idea is that Timothy thought like Paul and had a similar perspective so that he would likely interpret situation much like Paul would if he had been present. Paul could rely on any report from Timothy as being similar to one he himself would have brought back.

This is the only NT use of this word and there is one in the Septuagint in Psalm 55...

Psalm 55:13-note But it is you, a man my equal (a man like me; Lxx = isopsuchos), my companion and my familiar friend

Vine notes that isopsuchos...

is used in the Septuagint (LXX) of Ps 55:13, “thou, O man likeminded.” A similar phrase is found in Deut 13:6, “a friend equal to thy soul.” (Ed: In Dt 13:6 the Greek is not actually "isopsuchos" but "isos tes psuches", literally "as thine own soul") (Vine, W.  Collected Writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)

Marvin Vincent...

Only here in N.T. (See LXX, Ps. 55:13) Supply moi, not  Timotheo. Timothy was to be sent to minister to them in Paul’s stead. Moreover, the quality of Timothy’s care for them is just that which marks Paul’s care—gnesios, ‘naturally,’ ‘by birth-relation,’ and therefore ‘truly’ or ‘genuinely’; with such a care as springs from a natural, parental relation. In other words, there is no one who will care for them in a fatherly way as Paul does. (See 1Co 4:15; 1Th 2:11; Philemon 1:10; 1Ti 1:2; Titus 1:4.) Timothy would have such a feeling for the Philippian Christians, since he was associated with Paul in founding their church. For gnesios, see Php 4:3; 2Co 8:8; 1Ti 1:2; Titus 1:4) (Philippians 2 Commentary)

Note that being "like-souled" does not mean Paul and Timothy always agreed but it does mean that being alongside each other was easy so that neither had to work hard at the relationship and things flowed smoothly between them. 

Paul now gives one of the most important characteristics of being "kindred spirits" -- a genuine concern for the welfare of others. What Paul had been calling for in Php 2:3, 4, 5 (see note Philippians 2:3-4; 2:5), both he and Timothy were carrying out in everyday life. They were not just putting on a show of affection for these believers, they were sincerely concerned about their estate. It is a sign of spiritual maturity to not merely have much knowledge but to care much, to live out that knowledge.

We all have numerous acquaintances and a few close friends in our life, but finding a "like-souled" one is a most unusual and delightful discovery. When it happens, both parties sense the kindred bond and neither has to convince the other that they have a oneness of spirit. Such was Paul's great joy and delight in his protégée Timothy who stood out as a rare gem in a world of self-seekers.

Is there a person or people in your life you
are influencing to multiply your ministry?
That is the way the gospel spreads.

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Encouraging People - A political leader, summing up the brokenness of our time, talked about a "Humpty-Dumpty world." The intriguing phrase takes us back to a childhood nursery rhyme:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall;
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again.

The message of that old rhyme is true to life. Man is broken and needs to be put together again. The Creator of the universe cares about our situation and has taken steps to restore us to wholeness. He came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ, and He fashioned the church as His body so that the members should "care for one another" (1Corinthians 12:25). Timothy demonstrated that kind of care for Paul, and for other believers (Philippians 2:18-22).

Caring is as basic as giving money to help destitute Christians or looking after aged parents; as simple as being patient and kind or visiting widows and orphans in distress; as obvious as paying a just wage to employees; or as unspectacular as giving a cup of cool water to someone who thirsts. That's how our Savior would have us care for broken people in our Humpty-Dumpty world. Are we letting Jesus care through us? —H W Robinson  (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

A gentle word, a kindly deed
To help the ones who have a need,
A smile that Christ's great love imparts—
Such caring stands to win their hearts. —Brandt

If you really care, you'll want to share.
See also (What Is Real Love?)

Encouragers Needed (Please Apply) - Discouragement is a problem for many Christians. While they may not be distressed about health, family, or work, they're discouraged about their spiritual service. They compare themselves to others who are gifted with musical talents or the ability to teach the Bible. They see people who are able to give generously and pray with evident effectiveness, but they think they can't do these things. As a result, they feel they are useless to God. They need to realize, however, that every Christian is qualified to carry on at least one helpful ministry--the ministry of encouragement.

Renowned preacher Robert Dale was walking one day in Birmingham, England, where he was pastoring the great Carr's Lane Church. He was under a dark cloud of gloom when a woman came up to him and exclaimed,

"God bless you, Dr. Dale. If you could only know how you have made me feel hundreds of times!"

Then off she hurried. Dale later testified,

"The mist broke, the sunlight came, and I breathed the free air of the mountains of God."

The apostle Paul knew how important it was not only to be encouraged by others (Phil. 2:19) but to be an encourager (Acts 20:2; 27:35-36). That's a ministry all of us can be involved in. --V C Grounds (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

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who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare: hostis gnesios ta peri humon merimnesei, (3SFAI)  (1Sa 18:1,3)

Genuinely (1104)  (gnesios is an adverb derived from génos = born) ((gnesios, literally is born in wedlock; thus, “like a brother”) when referring to children meant those of born in wedlock and so legitimately or lawfully born. The related noun form gnesios is used figuratively in the NT to describe one who is genuine, true and not degenerate. Gnesios described the relation of a disciple to his teacher. For example in the introduction of Titus Paul writes

"to Titus, my true child in a common faith" (see note Titus 1:4).

The word "true" is the noun form, gnesios, and describes Titus as one who is a legitimate, truly born again believer. So Timothy was like a real, born son naturally cares for his father’s interests and not in pretence only. Timothy had a genuine sense of responsibility. He was a straight shooter. He was a person you could count upon to get at the truth of the matter. In the present context the emphasis is upon the sincere concern Timothy had for the Philippian saints which explains his selection as emissary from Paul.  Timothy was the "genuine article" or the "real thing" as we might say today.

Be concerned (3309) (merimnao from mérimna = anxious care in turn from merizo = to divide or draw different directions - which is exactly what anxiety does to most of us!) (Click in depth word study) means to have an anxious concern, give one’s thought to a matter, and expresses a strong feeling for something or someone, often to the point of being burdened.

Timothy could be depended upon to have a very real and appropriate "anxious concern" about the welfare of the Philippians. Paul uses this same verb later in a "negative" sense telling his beloved saints to "be anxious (merimnao) for nothing" (see note Philippians 4:6) the contrasting meanings of the same verb illustrating the importance of context in accurate interpretation. In the present verse being anxious (caring, concerned) is a good thing. Similarly, using the related noun form (merimna) Paul described

"the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches." (2Cor 11:28)

When Timothy was with others, his heart was sincerely touched by their needs. Read the next verse to also help understand something of Timothy's concern -- he did seek after his own interests but those of Christ Jesus. Timothy was unique in his selfless (cf see note Philippians 2:3-4) unselfish care for the spiritual condition of the Philippians. There was no one else whom Paul could send to them with the same confidence. Timothy was truly a man who was more "other-centered" than "self-centered."

 It is not what is on the label; it is what is inside that counts. We can lead in name only by our title or we can lead by character and responsibility.

Josiah Holland wrote

GOD, GIVE US MEN!

A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty and in private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,
Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.

-- Josiah Gilbert Holland, "God, Give Us Men!" quoted in The Best Loved Poems of the American People, selected by Hazel Felleman (Garden City: Garden City Books, 1936), p. 132.

F B Meyer...
 

NOT SORROW UPON SORROW
Phil. 2:19-30
 

The Bible is so Divine because it is so human. This chapter began with the sorrows of the Son of God; it ends with the sorrow of His Apostle; and the Holy Spirit does not deem it incongruous to deal first with the wonderful condescension of our blessed Master from the supernal Throne to the Cross of shame, and then to turn back to what was transacting in a human breast, of hope and fear, of sorrow and joy, on the banks of the muddy Tiber. So, beloved, however great God is, and however vast the range and circumference of His interests, there is not one tear that you shed, one sorrow that you feel, that is not of exceeding importance and care to Him.
The Great God, who, in the Person of His Son, stooped from the Throne to the Cross, and is now exalted above all conception, yet thinks of His prisoner in the hired house at Rome, and sees to it that the pressure of sorrow shall not be too great for the delicate machinery of his frail heart to sustain.
The facts as here stated. The Philippian Church; the Apostle Paul; Timothy; Epaphroditus; God.

THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI
(1) The Church at Philippi (Phil. 2:25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30). For ten years the Christians there had not assisted the Apostle; not that they had forgotten him, but because they had had no opportunity. He was in circumstances where they could not reach him. It might have been supposed that they had forgotten, but such love as theirs never forgets. It may not be able to furnish assistance, but it still burns on the altar of the heart.

Be loyal to your love; whatever else you forget in the world, never forget the claims of friendship. Let love be cherished above all other treasures. Trust each other's love, and when there is no sign or token, still believe that your friend is loyal, and only awaiting the moment when his help may reveal an undying, unaltering affection. The Philippians were only waiting until the time came, the time when they could help best. Give a man bread when he is hungry, drink when he is thirsty, and clothes when he is naked; watch your moment. Ah, if we would but watch the timely moment, when some spirit is failing, when hope threatens to expire, when heart and soul faint, and would strike it then, how many desperate deeds we should arrest, and how many heart-broken ones we should encourage to face with fresh hope the difficulty and responsibility of life! Be true to your friends; trust your friends; redeem the opportunity.

THE IMPRISONED APOSTLE.
(2) The Apostle Paul. He could preach, but he was a handcuffed prisoner; and in that dreary apartment, from which he looked out wearily upon liberty, he was often lonely. He had sent everybody away whom he could trust, except Timothy and Epaphroditus. But he was extremely anxious about the welfare of his Philippian friends; and he knew that they were equally anxious about him; he gave up, therefore, the one man of all others who was dear to him--Timothy--and sent him to bring word about their state, and that they might be comforted in knowing about his. Because the Philippians were so true in their love to him, he counted no sacrifice too great to show his love to them. The man who lives nearest God is always nearest his fellows, and he who is most sensitive towards God is most sensitive towards man, and will rather go without his dearest and nearest, to show how much he is prepared to do to sympathise with and help others. Be always willing to sacrifice your Timothy's if you may give a ray of comfort to the distant friends at Philippi.

THE HELPER, TIMOTHY.
(3) Timothy. Timothy loved Paul as a child his father (Phil. 2:22, R.V.). He had been delicately reared; his constitution was weak, so much so that the Apostle even advised him to take a little wine for his often infirmities; and perhaps he was too sensitive to stand against strong opposition and dislike. But, with all this, he was a man of rare sweetness of disposition and grace of character. He had great faith in the Lord Jesus, and was staunch and loyal to his friend. Probably his love to Paul strengthened his character, and the demand that Paul made on him brought out his noblest and best, so that young Timothy grew to be a hero under the touch of love. What a wonderful power love is--the right kind of love! There is a selfish, hurtful, harmful love that enervates and injures its objects; there is another, an unselfish love, that draws out the best and noblest, making the timid strong and brave, and eliciting the hero that had lain buried in the soul. Timothy would therefore be sent to Philippi, as soon as the Apostle knew how his trial would turn out; and probably the Apostle would closely follow him (Phil. 2:23-24).

"MY BROTHER"
(4) Epaphroditus. The Apostle speaks of Epaphroditus, who was to carry this Epistle, as the minister and apostle from Philippi, because he had brought the gifts of Philippi over sea and land. He describes him also, with exquisite delicacy, as My brother. There is no kinship so close as that brotherhood into which a common love to God brings two men. "My brother, my fellow-worker, my fellow-soldier" (Phil. 2:25, R.V.). Epaphroditus was a man of much less gift than Paul, yet Paul seemed to forget the disparity and speaks of him as his equal--my fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, because to work for Christ, and to fight side by side in the ranks of Christ's Gospel, must bring soul close to soul.

Epaphroditus, the Suppliant. Epaphroditus is probably referred to as Epaphras in Col. 4:12, and there we learn that he laboured fervently in prayer, that the distant Churches might be perfect in all the will of God. The word used of this good man's prayer, is agonise; he agonised as a gladiator in an amphitheatre, or an athlete in an arena. He was so intense in his intercession for his brethren in the faith, that it seemed as though his very veins stood out as whipcord, and his whole soul was knit into an agony. This simple man prayed so earnestly that Paul said he was like a gladiator wrestling in the amphitheatre. He had fallen sick; perhaps he had taken Roman-fever when diving down into some of the worst parts of Rome to look after lost men, who, like Onesimus, had gone astray, and in one of these terrible dens of infamy, where the air was heavy with disease and impurity, this good man Epaphroditus was taken ill (Phil. 2:30). When tidings came to the Apostle, they nearly broke his heart, because he feared that his friend would die, and he be unable to visit him or to help.

Epaphroditus was, however, spared, but in his convalescence was sore troubled, because, somehow, the Philippians had come to hear of his sickness, and would naturally be filled with profound anxiety about it. So delicate is life in its sensitiveness. It is a difficult question to decide how much love ought to tell the loved one. You might have supposed Epaphroditus ought to tell, and would be glad to tell, his Philippian friends. But he thought otherwise. He felt that they had trouble and responsibility and anguish enough, and he did not want to add one additional burden to those who were already weighted to the ground.

Reticence and Frankness. Perhaps it is wise, when we are so far away from those we love that they cannot possibly help us, to keep back something of the pain and sorrow through which we are going; but with those whom we are meeting day by day we should not be reticent, for reticence is often the death-blow of love. The only thing about which we do well to be reticent to our intimate friends is when we have been slighted or injured. Under such circumstances it is good not to speak, because, maybe, we shall magnify the slight into an actual wrong, whilst if we do not speak about it we shall forget it.
In other things it is well to be frank. Confidence is the native air of love. Those words of Lord Bacon's, in his inimitable essay upon Friendship, are perfectly true. "We know," he says, "that diseases of stoppings and suffocations are most dangerous to the body; and it is not much otherwise in the mind. You may take sarza to open the liver, steel to open the spleen, flower of sulphur for the lungs, castoreum for the brain; but no receipt openeth the heart but a true friend, to whom you may impart griefs, joys, fears, hopes, suspicions, counsels, and whatever lieth upon the heart to oppress it, in a kind of civil shrift or confession."

We must admire Epaphroditus, whose love was so sensitive that he said: "They cannot help me; if they were near enough to nurse me I would tell them, but they are too far away." But when he knew that tidings of his illness but not of his convalescence had reached them, the news almost caused a relapse.

GOD'S CARE

(5) God. St. Paul lived in a very atmosphere of love. Think of it. All around, the world lay in hate, malice, and envy; but in that hired room in Rome there was the intense focus-point of love. In the midst of winter all around, there was summer in that hired house. In the midst of the dark night of heathenism there was the one beautiful spot of heavenly life.

The Philippian gifts were all about the place, showing they had not forgotten him. So far from forgetting them, the Apostle was thinking of sending Timothy, though it seemed like tearing a part of himself away. Timothy was, also, as intent on serving him as a child a father, and daring to share his bonds and shame. In addition, there was Epaphroditus anxious because the Philippians were anxious, and distressed beyond measure because he added to their grief. There was a perfect hothouse of love--palms, fruits, and flowers in a tropical atmosphere amid the wintry climate. And out of all that there came this blessed faith in God that He would not add sorrow to sorrow. Paul said to himself: "I am quite sure God is just like man, only better. I am quite sure that God is as thoughtful and sensitive as we are about one another. I would not let Epaphroditus die, unless there were some urgent reason to the contrary; if I could spare a servant of mine sorrow I would." He argued from the love of which he was personally conscious to the love above him, and said: "God is like a father, mother, brother, sister, friend, all in one. The most tender, gentle, sensitive being in the whole universe is God, and He will not add sorrow to sorrow. There must be sorrow, that I may learn to sympathise with sorrow, that my heart may be open towards all who suffer; but there will be no needless adding of sorrow to sorrow." What a noble conception is presented to us here of how human love lifts man to understand the Divine love! We argue from the human to the Divine: "How much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask Him." He will not overdrive His flock; nor give us more than we can bear; nor add one drop of needless grief to our heart's burden.

WE MAY DRAW THREE CONCLUSIONS

Christ and Human Friendship.

(First), Christ and Human Friendship. That Christ recognises human friendships. Love is the one thing that makes life worth living. One has said: "I would rather be condemned to be led out and hung, if I knew one human soul would love me for a week beforehand and honour me afterwards, than live half a century to be nothing to any living creature." That life is richest which has most true friends; that life is most worth living which is surrounded by the truest and tenderest hearts. But do we prize human love enough? Do we requite it as we should? Are we not too careless of these pearls of spiritual wealth? Do we not break the necklace and loose the pearls too recklessly? Are there not people in our own home-circle who, if they were to die this week, would haunt our memory with infinite regret? "George," she said, "I was a foolish girl, but I always loved you." But the kisses that poured from the husband's lips were too late to arrest the death, and undo the lovelessness of his treatment of the one whom he promised to love with all his heart; and he must suffer always afterwards the gnawing of a constant sorrow.

How eminently careful we ought to be to be loyal to love; to be sensitive not needlessly to hurt, and never to fall beneath the high standard put by Jesus Christ in his loyalty to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and the rest. Jesus Christ recognises human love. Lacordaire, the great French preacher, said, "Above all things, be kind. Kindness is the one thing in which we most resemble God and help men. Kindness in mutual relations is the principal charm of life." It would, perhaps, be better to use the word love instead of kindness; for kindness is often mere philanthropy, whereas love is of God. Christ honours friendship.

God as our Friend

(Secondly) God as our Friend. We may dare to impute to God the feelings that we impute to our dearest friend. "That I might not have sorrow upon sorrow." Some people are always asking the question, Do you love God? It is far better to dwell on the assurance that God loves you. It is a far more important thing to reckon that God loves you, than for you to try to love God. It is no wonder that people abstain from our places of worship, and go away into sin and worldliness, because the Church has insisted so constantly that they must love God, and they cannot; whereas if the Church would tell people that God loves them, and that they may absolutely reckon on His love, there would be an attraction in the message which would draw them to the Saviour. In God's love they may always dare to impute the very delicacy and tenderness which Paul felt towards Philippi, or Epaphroditus towards his fellow-Christians.

"And so beside the silent sea
I wait the muffled oar:
No harm from Him can come to me
On ocean or on shore.

"I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care."

Always know and believe in the love of God. God is Love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Influence of the Love of God.

(Thirdly), Influence of the Love of God. The love of God, when it is believed in, makes us very sensitive to other people. We have our blessed human friendships. From these we rise to conceive of God, and from God we come back to love all men. As with waterfalls, the water dropping from a great height scatters a spray, which makes the stones and boulders array themselves in verdure; so the love of God, falling upon our hearts, will make us very tender towards our fellow-Christians and all men. We must love the suffering and the lost, the loveless and implacable, with something of the love that fills the heart of God, and which never fails. From individuals we rise to God, from God we return to individuals, and from individuals we go forth to the great world.

Love is the only clue to the mysteries of life. As one grows older and knows more, one is more absolutely appalled at the mysteries of sin, and pain, and evil, and there is no clue but to believe that God loves, and that in our turn we must love. St. John says: "Herein is love made perfect that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment.'' When the worlds crash to ruin, when the universe is in the throes of dissolution, and the eternal certainties are revealed, the only thing which will make the soul strong and unmoved will be the sense that the eternal God has loved it in Christ, and that it has sought to live a life of tender holy love, which it will continue to live for evermore.