Philippians 2:22

‘But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.'

He is aware that the Philippians were already acquainted with Timothy, for Timothy had been with him on his first visit to them, so he reminds them that they themselves had sufficient evidence of the way in which he had been like a faithful son to Paul, serving with him in the furtherance of the Gospel. The verb ‘serving' (edoulesen) connects back to the One Who took on Himself the form of a ‘doulos' (servant). The noun ‘proof' (dokime) indicates that he has ‘stood the test'.

This not an attempt by Paul to make Timothy acceptable to them, but simply an assurance confirming his adequacy in every way for the task. Paul has every confidence that he is up to the job, which was no easy one. It behoves us all to ensure that we are like Timothy.