Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." The letters are also arranged by lengthRomans is longest and is first, then the Corinthian letters, then Galatians, etc. the most complete healing is when we are taken home. In believing the word of God, you have to. In this verse, Paul gives five titles to Epaphroditus. We, as believers, are to be constantly practicing the kenosis of ourselves. function. All this was done in a church in Austin, Texas with an Evangelist from Virginia working through the Gifts of the Spirit, ie, Word of Knowledge, working of miracles, gifts of healing. He was Paul's fellow laborer. 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. It is a gambling term. Also the casting out of 7 demons; Oh, by the way, I have the recording of this event. We need to work hard in intellectual areas; we need to toil in study. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? Why is there a need for healing leaves from the tree in Revelations? rev2023.3.3.43278. 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 teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. Take medicine, for example. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints (1 Cor. The close of the Book of Acts was also the close of Gods dealings with the nation of Israel for now nearly 2000 years. Paul is honoring Epaphroditus with these titles. Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their We have no reason to suppose that Epaphroditus took part with Paul in his more properly apostolic work, and the fact that the purely material help, and pecuniary service which most probably comprised all his 'ministering,' is honoured by Paul with these lofty designations, carries with it large lessons as to the sanctity of common life. Instead, God graciously healed him in this instance. He labored on Paul's behalf until his own health broke, and, even when he was sick, Epaphroditus took no thought of himself; rather, he was distressed because his church had heard of his illness, and he didn't want them to worry. Amen. When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. Epaphroditus was ministering to Paul physically; he brought him a financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry messages, or do what ever Paul needed. Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send guarding our lives and start taking some risks in order to meet the needs of others. Those who work in the tape ministry are my He and all his brethren are gone, but his name lives for ever, and Paul's praise of him and of his work outshines all else remembered of the city, where conquerors once reigned, and outside whose walls was fought a battle that decided for a time the fate of the world. Having seen the pattern of truth regarding the gifts, we need to ask, why did the gifts cease at this time? The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. Paul highly honors Epaphroditus with these It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. 2:25-30). A man who never opens his lips but to censure or criticise, who fastens on faults as wasps do on blemished fruit, will never be surrounded by loyal love. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. All we know about him is what we learn from this passage. We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? Then he goes on to say that he was 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. We are not to fear people, they can't hurt you. My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. We need to "show" people that we love them by He wasn't a teacher nor preacher that we know of. back" but "send." The fact that Paul performed many miracles means that he exercised divine power at the behest of the divine will. Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? That was one less thing Paul had to be concerned about (2:26-27). Epaphroditus to you." I equally agree that it's always according to God's will. honor him. So, please don't tell me that Divine Healing ceased. In Philippians 2 we read of a healing that God did after the gift of healing had ceased to operate: Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. He later returned to his home base at Antioch (Acts 18:22), and later in his third apostolic journey he arrived in Ephesus (his ministry in Ephesus extends all the way through Acts 19a period of more than two years, see verse 10). 3:2) to the Apostle Paul, but He had not yet revealed the entire message to him. necessity, that which is lacking." And he wrote to the Corinthians about the gift of healing that was operating in their church during the Acts period (1 Cor. goddess of love. 29 Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. great opposition." I subscribe to the view that the reason is because the gifts that he was performing in the early days was a "sign to the Jews"; not all spiritual gifts are still in operation today; or, they aren't necessarily "needed." There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble Spam, January 24 2014 Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. That makes Galatians the earliest of Pauls letters. The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. We'd like to help. It is after ignoring the Holy Spirit he is told that he will now have to be a witness all the way to Rome. sadness. used for minister is deokonos -- deacon. This may be the most important message you ever read. "But God had mercy on him" -- God spared him from death and any time that God spares a life 1:14). Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? Think of the profound clefts of separation between the Macedonian and the Jew, the antipathies of race, the differences of language, the dissimilarities of manner, and then think of what an unheard-of new thing it must have been that a Macedonian should 'serve' a Jew! We as Berean Bible Church need to work at He could not merely raise anyone from the dead he chose to, nor could he heal anyone he chose to because he only exercise divine power under the direction of the divine will (1 Cor 12:6, 11). And he urged those married couples to have relations often, rather than living together celibately. 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. Are we fellow soldiers? they also may know the joy of loving the Lord Jesus Christ." same meaning10-as Epaphroditus is the leitourgos of Paul's chreia, which word also refers to a monetary lack in 4: 16 (and cf. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. I have hid them in my heart. It was his brethren who were exhorted to receive their own messenger back again 'in the Lord with all joy, and to hold him in honour.' It wasn't Paul's lack of compassion for his friend. What have you risked to meet someone's needs? risks. It is clear that the gift of healing has ceased because, as in Philippians, Paul was no longer able to heal, even his co-workers. financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry 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. examples yet they all experienced sickness. They labor in setting up the Paul thought that chastity was best, but realized that most people have natural sexual desires. The fact that ancient people rarely recovered from serious illnesses and the Apostles specific language in Philippians 2:27 indicate that he is talking about more than just a providential answer to prayer. God. I believe it is used here primarily of physical needs. someone's concern for your condition? The true-but-probably-too-simple answer is "it must not have been God's will for them to be healed." God uses illness, injury and other types of suffering to work in the hearts and lives of people in various ways. Proverbs 4:20-23. While at Rome ministry. How this happened or what his sickness was The difficulty of communication would sufficiently account for the partial intelligence. messages, or do what ever Paul needed. 1. But then He tells them that even while they were doing these things, He had never ever known them. act to follow either. He was a man of courage-- anyone who would offer himself as the personal attendant of a Edward D. Andrews wrote. Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? 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]. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 1:22) so God gave them signsamong the Gentiles!in order to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom. do without." The next letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. with Paul helping him?". 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. Because a wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills. View our current career opportunities. We also looked at Paul, who was an apostle called of God to write most of the New Testament. sometimes that may be a spiritual healing , but they will be healed. Please make sure you take our Tour. When Paul gives Timothy and Titus instructions regarding the choice of men to be elders in the churches, Paul says nothing about the desirability of these men having a gift such as prophecy, or healing, or other sign gifts (see Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Tim. The reason that I'm stressing this is because I want For we know in part and we prophesy in part. What we do know for sure is that Epaphroditus illness was so severe that he almost died (v. 27). 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. (II Corinthians 12:7-9) Epaphroditus came to Paul at Rome and became gravely ill, but Paul who had miraculously healed so many did not miraculously heal him (Philippians 2:25-30). 2:27). Parallel Commentaries . Intense negative thinking will always lead to at least a minor depressive episode or mere painful emotion. What did the apostle Paul use the gift of tongues for? Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? Our thoughts based on a good mood will be entirely different from those based on our being upset. "distressed"ademoneo, it means: "to be depressed or rejected, be troubled, full of anguish or There are very many Christian workers who never get their due of recognition and welcome from their brethren, and there are many who get far more of both than belongs to them, and both they and the crowds who bring them adulation would be freed from dangers, which can scarcely be over-stated, if the spirit of Paul's warm-hearted praise of Epaphroditus were kept in view. and suffering, and given a choice, Paul preferred death: But if Epaphroditus would have died, Paul would have lost a good friend and this would have Of course, our apostle Continue Reading. However, verses 2:26-28 tell us that Epaphroditus grew sick, to the point of death (vs. 27), while he was on his way to Rome. All through the Book of Acts Paul had only gnosis, partial knowledge of the message of grace, but when we turn to the Prison Letters we suddenly find Paul using that word epignosishe had now received that full knowledge which he didnt have when he wrote to the Corinthians: For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge (epignosisfull knowledge) of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ (Col. 2:1-2). At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul. Epaphroditus was a plugger and they all would have missed him and it was no accident that he had left his congregation to take thousands of dollars to the apostle Paul. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. 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. Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. Because the tomb was empty! How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? apostolic delegate. Epaphroditus was not only a He is mentioned nowhere else in the Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). We need to recapture a spirit of hard work in the social realm. Why did she weep? But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? But, what happened? Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? And this will we do, if God permit." We must not leave unnoticed the beautiful self-abnegation which sends off Epaphroditus as soon as he was well enough to travel, as a gift of the Apostle's love, in order to repay them for what they had done for him. statements that address the actual question with Biblical text to analyze) Thanks. Vote Up Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. distressed because you had heard that he was sick." We are co-laborers. The word "gladness" is chara which means: "joy." [1] Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1992). The name later came to mean: church each week. Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed or visit someone with the gift of healing. Paul had the gift of healing didn't he? The gift of healing by the laying on of hands, etc., was no longer needed, because that particular gift was a gift for a sign to the Jews! Epaphroditus was distressed because the Philippians were distressed over his terrible illness. here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH ABOUT ________? My question: If a man believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth Jesus Christ and Him risen, he is Born Again, saved. God's sparing of Epaphroditus' life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. Spam, January 22 2014 These very thoughts are what keep us sluggish and contribute to our feeling frustrated, angry, or worthless. "Epaphroditus is here to do what you can't do because you're so far away.". These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead.
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