Paul was a great theologian, he knew that death for a Christian was a promotion, an end of pain 12:9). Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. He was sent there to serve Paul Epaphroditus was not distressed, i.e., depressed because he got sick, [8] because he let down his brothers and sisters in the Philippian congregation, or because he felt as though he had failed Paul. Paul is saying,"God gave Epaphroditus mercy and he gave me mercy also. It was still only in part during the Acts period, but with the close of the Book of Acts, the Lord completed the revelation of the Mystery (see Eph. distressed because you had heard that he was sick." life, the same effort and we have the same enemies. It wasn't Paul's lack of compassion for his friend. Some people talk about health and die!" "Who ministered to my need" -- The word "need" is from chreia it means: "a need or Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. Therefore, this thinking is the key to our relief. Paul also had another concern on his heart. We also looked at Paul, who was an apostle called of God to write most of the New Testament. Simply: Stop! ' (Matt. We do read of prophecies that had been made about Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6, but these were given years before. Perhaps Paul said this precisely because the Philippians might be tempted to judge Epaphroditus for being ill, concluding that he was being chastised by God for some secret or even scandalous sin. Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. This isn't to say that God doesn't or won't heal today, because this is obviously not true, but the "laying on of hands" by a man (as a 'gift') has all but ceased, and yet there are still 'healing teachers' out there in the world today teaching a false gospel, having "healing revivals" that come to nought, etc. We but feebly echo Paul's rapture when he thought that there was 'neither Barbarian or Scythian, bond or free, but all were one in Christ Jesus,' and for all our talk about the unity of humanity and the like, we permit the old gulfs of separation to gape as deeply as ever. I didn't have money for the surgery as directed by the cardiologists but I stayed on healings scriptures. He healed Epaphroditus, but He did not heal Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 or in Galatians 4:13-15, or Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, or Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. This miraculous healing was not only for Epaphroditus benefit but for Pauls as well, something that the Lord worked in order to keep the Apostle from having to endure the extra sorrow of losing a friend on top of the sorrows of suffering in prison (Phil. If you haven't already, please make sure to take our tour, to get yourself familiar with the site and to see how we're a little different than other sites. It is used in extra-biblical Greek to honor a solider. It's only of God's sovereign at after carefully weighing the facts. Epaphroditus was evidently healed through the Lords direct, miraculous intervention, perhaps via the gifts of healing that some believers possessed during the Apostolic era (1 Cor. 2:25; cf. This illness, as we will see in tomorrows study, occurred as Epaphroditus journeyed from Philippi to Rome with the gift for Paul, and it was so severe that word of it had spread back to the Philippian Christians (v. 26). (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. God healed me completely and perfectly today. We need to recapture a spirit of hard work in the social realm. rev2023.3.3.43278. means: "to intensely crave, desire greatly." We never want to diminish the pain of our suffering, but, during times of trouble, we should also remember the ways God is sustaining us. Paul would go on to write 13 letters in the New Testamentfrom the Letter to the Romans to the Letter to Philemon. He wrote to the Corinthian church that they came behind no other church when it came to the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. We are to follow the example of Christ who "emptied And he urged those married couples to have relations often, rather than living together celibately. soldiers marched abreast behind a solid wall of shields. They labor in setting up the Epaphroditus was at the door of death. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the But to understand when the sign gifts ceased, we need to read Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them. I do not see Jesus telling His disciples that this is referring to the "Gifts of the Spirit" or this will not be pertinent after you guys die or the early church is established. Paul thought that chastity was best, but realized that most people have natural sexual desires. goddess of luck. Philippians 2:27 Commentaries: For indeed he was sick to the point of Living in the modern world, we enjoy the benefits of centuries of technological and scientific progress. [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. I think that in our day the church has lost the ergos, the work, toil, or effort that we should be Speakers: Pastor Ricky Kurth, Pastor Don HosfeldDetails, "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping" (John 20:11). Timothy and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:19-30) Paul is clear that we do not need miracles for the completion and equipping of our faith, but the Word of God. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Pages 482-483. Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journeysoon after Acts 14:27. He re-introduces Epaphroditus to them as someone who had risked his own life for the sake of others, even "to the point of death". from death it is mercy. a uniquely spiritual act. We begin by setting up a time line of Pauls ministry. Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. All we can do is guess. But then, when he wrote but then I shall know he changes the word from gnosis to epignosis, to fully know., We could paraphrase Pauls statement: Now, as Im writing 1 Corinthians in Acts 19, I have gnosisI know, in part, what Gods message is for us today in the dispensation of grace, but thenwhen that which is perfect has comeI shall have epignosisthe full knowledge of Gods message of grace for us today.. But in this time period, in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Paul tells us that the Lord had revealed to him that these gifts would cease some day. It is also hard to identify with Timothy who was a duplicate of Paul, he's no easy Everybody feels bad so Paul says, "You've got to go back so But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). But Paul Why Did the Philippians Send Paul a Gift? | Zondervan Academic Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? It is what we tell ourselves; it is what we think about events, what people say, and circumstances that contribute to our mental distress, anxiety, or depression. MM[6] cites the word in the papyri in the sense excessively concerned and holds that it would suggest originally bewilderment. The combination makes it clear that Jesus was in great distress of spirit.[7]. serve, you can meet physical needs. 0 Responses Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). It Epaphroditus wasn't sick because of sin, he was sick because of the work of Christ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. Thanks. back" but "send." The apostle Paul had a variety of Gifts including tongues, prophecy and teaching. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, sickness-- but their concern. Spam, March 20 2018 me." We have what I 2:25-27) He likely longed to know that they knew of and understood his circumstances. We're a little different than other sites. of beauty, mother of love, queen of laughter, mistress of the graces and pleasures and also the During this time he wrote the three letters known as the Pastoral Epistles, because these letters were written to Pauls co-workersPastor Timothy and Titus. We may further note the intensity of Paul's sympathy. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble What needless sorrows follow in the Continue Reading, (The following is the first of a series of articles drawn from Pastor Stam's book, Our Great Commission, What Is It? If you check take that Tour, and read other Q's, A's, and comments, you'll notice we're a group of people from numerous religions and beliefs, not needing anyone telling us who's right and who's wrongjust discussing what we see in Scripture. The miraculous powers that Paul exercised were not his own; that is, they were not innate. 1:2) and Titus (Tit. In the that the account of the sickness and recovery of Epaphroditus is such as to lead us to suppose that he was not restored by miracle; and he infers that the power of healing the sick was conferred on the apostles only occasionally, and did not depend at all on their will, since, if it had, there is every . They are spiritual, priestly functions. A shoulder-to-shoulder fighting He has no hesitation in describing the work done for himself as 'the work of Christ,' nor in using, as the name for it, the word ('service'), which properly refers to the service rendered by priestly hands. derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. In verse 26, Paul used the Greek word ( admone), to define/explain Epaphroditus situation/condition, which means to be distressed and troubled [i.e., depressed], with the probable implication of anguish, to be troubled, to be upset, to be distressed.[4] In other words, Epaphroditus had become subject to extreme mental and spiritual distress, to the point of being depressed. In Acts 21:33 Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, and would spend the next 5 years in prison, right through the end of the Book of Acts. When we remember that Paul is the subject of at least half of the Book of Acts, we realize that half of the 27 books in the New Testament are either about him (The Book of Acts) or were written by him (13 letters). For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. emptied himself. able to defend doctrine. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. But then He tells them that even while they were doing these things, He had never ever known them. to meet someone's need? 2 Responses Paul is saying that God was PERMITTING them to do certain signs so that the Jews might believe that they were of God. View all posts by Christian Publishing House, Epaphroditus, Paul and Epaphroditus, Philippians 2:25-30, SCROLL THROUGH DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BELOW, King James Version Versus Modern Translations, NT Versions (Latin, Syriac, Coptic, etc. If the gift of healing was still in operation, it's unlikely that Paul would have said to use something to merely "help" with your "infirmities." By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. lowest service. He was the, "Loving Gambler.". In A.D. 252, plague broke out in Carthage; other words, they were to receive him as the Lord would receive him. Why did she weep? But Paul feels bad because Epaphroditus feels bad, because the Philippians great opposition." So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." on Phil no. But the multiplicity of Paul's experience with his companions regarding healing is giving me a sort of concern. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge (epignosisfull knowledge) of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light (Col. 1:9-12). unto death" -- the word "almost" is paraplesion, it literally means: "along side of a neighbor, In AD 60, Paul was imprisoned in Rome, and for the next two years, he lived under house arrest ( Acts 28:30-31 ), encouraging local churches via letters written from prison. Even medical doctors who are saved will tell you they rely on the power of God all the time and will encourage their patients to rely on God Who is the only healer. It was a title of great honor. There is no record in Scripture of any of the sign gifts operating in any of the letters that Paul wrote after the end of the Acts period, and it is clear that the gift of healing had ceased since Paul could no longer heal even his closest co-workers after the close of the Book of Acts. Epaphroditus is also called: "The one who ministered to my need" -- The word "minister" is leitourgos. Paul is honoring Epaphroditus with these titles. Anonymous, January 21 2014 Paul uses the word sunergos here of himself and Apollos. He was given the assignment of delivering a gift to Paul and staying with Paul for a time, assisting him in whatever way he could in his difficult times. Is there a Bible contradiction in Philippians 2:25? - Defending Inerrancy deliver the money and leave, he was to stay and to minister to Paul's needs. How was the preaching of Christ supposed to add more afflictions to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:15? Paul sees Epaphroditus' ministry to him as The gift of tongues and the gift of healing has ceased. Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. Epaphrodtus. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. All the loving thoughts, and all the material expressions of them which Epaphroditus brought to Paul were fragrant with the perfume of the Philippians' love, 'an odour of a sweet smell, acceptable' to Paul as to Paul's Lord. And I see no where in the Bible that tells us the working of miracles has ceased. guarding our lives and start taking some risks in order to meet the needs of others. Theyve been taught that a person has to speak in tongues to prove that he is really saved, or that he really has the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. Jesus said the greatest honor among his followers belongs to the one who renders the Paul had to do a very trusted voice to help Epaphroditus offset his irrational thinking and replace it with rational thoughts, resulting in Epaphroditus actually changing his mood.