Paul’s hope for sending Timothy is governed by the Lord’s will (literally, “I hope in the Lord Jesus”). He apparently has a confident expectation that the Lord will favor his plans. The word hope here has the components of “expectation” and “confidence,” and may often be rendered as “I look forward with trust,” or “I want to and think it will happen.” If it is the Lord’s will may be rendered as “if the Lord wishes it to be so,” or “if that is what the Lord wants.”

In selecting the equivalent for send, one must make certain that the proper components of meaning are present. For example, in some languages a verb meaning “send” may suggest that Paul wishes to get rid of Timothy. Other terms may suggest sending Timothy back home permanently. The meaning in this context is that Paul wishes to send Timothy to be of some help to the people in Philippi, but not on a permanent basis.

The purpose of Timothy’s mission is stated as that I may be encouraged by news about you. The verb be encouraged (literally, “be well in the soul”) is found only here in the New Testament. Its imperative form is very common in gravestone inscriptions, representing a pious wish for the dead: “Farewell!” or “Be it well with your soul!” The meaning in this context is “to be encouraged” or “to be cheered up.” The subject I in this purpose clause is emphatic and is preceded by a coordinating conjunction used adverbially in the sense of “also.” This particle is often left untranslated, but its implication is that the Philippians will be heartened by the visit of Timothy.

The passive expression of purpose, so that I may be encouraged by news about you, may be expressed in an active form as “so that information about how you are will encourage me.” In this type of context encouragement may be expressed in a negative manner, for example, “take away my anxieties,” or “remove my worries about you.”

By news about you represents a participial phrase in Greek which means literally “knowing the things concerning you.”

Quoted with permission from Luo, I-Jin. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .