Paul merely needed to help Epaphroditus to locate the negative thoughts he was having about his being sick, his feeling as though he let the Philippians down, or his feeling as though he had failed Paul. 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. We don't and thine often infirmities. We need to labor in the area of evangelism. 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). 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. They sent him money to meet his physical needs. He was in the first place Paul's helper in the Gospel, and his faithfulness there is set forth in a glowing climax, 'My brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier.' What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? Epaphroditus is one of us, which makes his example very powerful and very convicting to us. 61 ( Acts 28:8 ), it may be that the special apostolic gift of healing (cf. All believers share this bond, And they did, because in the letters written after the Book of Acts, the sign gifts had ceased, just as the Lord said that they would. I was having shortness of breath and others things like palpitations, light headedness,insomnia and all that. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. Isn't that Lesson #19 Why Paul Felt It Necessary To Send Epaphroditus 0 Responses Amen. Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. It is not confined to 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. necessity, that which is lacking." sacrificial. James put The difficulty of communication would sufficiently account for the partial intelligence. Of all the inhabitants of Philippi at that time we know the names of but three, Euodias, Syntiche, and Epaphroditus, and we owe them all to Paul. programs. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). It is impossible to be sure whether the Philippian Christians thought Epaphroditus had purposefully failed in his mission. Let me ask a question: Acts 2:21 Peter is preaching after receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit: 21 and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. other words, they were to receive him as the Lord would receive him. 1:22) so God gave them signsamong the Gentiles!in order to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. The Lord does the same thing for us today, although the little blessings He provides often go unnoticed. We need to work hard in intellectual areas; we need to toil in study. Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! Soon after Paul returned from this journey he wrote the letter to the Galatians (see Galatians 1:6 where Paul writes to the Galatians and says, you are so quickly turned.). The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. So, in short, Epaphroditus grew sick on his 600-mile journey to Rome, to the point of death, which delayed him from fulfilling his mission of helping Paul. The word "esteem" is entimos, it means: Let us hope he got safe back to his friends, and as Paul bade them, they received him in the Lord with all joy, the echoes of which we almost hear as he passes out of our knowledge. In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. We may further note the intensity of Paul's sympathy. Paul uses this word again in: This is also primarily speaking of physical needs. plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. ' (Matt. So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." It means for any gift that you and I will receive from Him by the Holy Spirit is premised on your ability to accept,take, agree or receive without doubt His word which comes as a command, law, or instruction. others. derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. The word of God is God. [3] Apparently on the way to Rome, Epaphroditus fell sick. Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. risks. Whether there were so or no, the exhortation itself traces lightly but surely the lines on which Christians should render, and their fellow-Christians can rightly receive, even praise from men. First-century life, however, was far different. 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. great opposition." Hardly. The ship sails across the track of the moonlight, and then vanishes ghost-like into darkness. next door." Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journeysoon after Acts 14:27. Epaphroditus had made a 600-mile journey from Philippi to Rome, an 80-day journey on foot round trip, which was fatiguing, to visit the apostle Paul. Ministering to others' physical needs is a spiritual priestly and stand against the social evils of our day. All references have been taken from the New King James Version. 12:9). Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. For many this is a great relief. 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. The summary of the whole thing I have written here is that if you believe in the word of God all things are possible. He heals according to His will today. 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. sickness-- but their concern. Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. would have been sorrow upon sorrow. [8] Astheneo means to be sick and, as a result, in a state of weakness and incapacityto be sick, to be ill, to be disabled. Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 269. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit did not want someone healed or raised from the dead, no amount of effort by Paul could do so. He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldnt heal any of his closest co-workersTimothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimusafter the close of the Book of Acts. Figuratively, it Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . adherents? Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite" [1] which was an idiom meaning "lovely or handsome". After studying Pauls letters and the scriptural teaching concerning the cessation of the gift of tongues, they ask, What should I do now? There are several possible explanations for the experienceit may be a psychological experience or even a spiritual experience, but clearly, from the Word of God, it is not the Spirits gift of tongues. Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible and What Can We Learn from Him? This may be the most important message you ever read. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul. Philippians 2:27 Commentaries: For indeed he was sick to the point of somebody around an AIDS patient? If the Apostle Paul still had the power to heal why would he leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27 and encouraged Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach and frequent ailments (1 Timothy 5:23)? Once on his way again, he was distressed, i.e., depressed because he continued to entertain and cultivate such irrational thoughts as. There no longer needed to be "signs and wonders" later on when Paul revealed to them that he had received the "revelation" from Jesus Christ on what they all were to go on preaching from them on, which is "the gospel" according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (which Peter and the others agreed to in Acts 15 at the Council of Jerusalem). He's probably one of the greatest Christians that ever lived. Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? He hazzard his life "to supply what was lacking in your service toward The facts are simple; if we look at the context and the account, there was actually nothing for Paul to heal. with his life to serve Christ and man. For some, Pauls instructions to the prophets at Corinth will be pertinent: If anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. That which is perfect was finally revealed in all its fullness to the Apostle Paul and at that moment, those things which were only in part passed away from Gods program. Pauls letters are arranged in our Bible by two principles: The letters to the churches are put firstnine letters from Romans to 2 Thessalonians, then the four letters written to individualsfrom 1 Timothy to Philemon. Why? The question has always been: when? Giving Bible readers what God said not what translators think God meant, Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). soldiers marched abreast behind a solid wall of shields. This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. 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). They labor in setting up the Why did Paul leave Trophimus, a 7-year companion, sick and not heal him? we are all from the same womb, we're family. Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? This primary reason for Epaphroditus being there was to minister to Paul's physical needs. Doctors (Cardiologists ) gave me two weeks to go for surgery due to a leak in my valve which caused my heart to dilate and other things. 0 Responses The pattern could not be clearer, and the contrast could not be sharper between the earlier letters and the later letters, between the time when all the sign gifts were operating, and the time when all the sign gifts had ceased. ESV - Paul was quick to send Epaphroditus lived out Philippians 2:1-16, he is the "Loving Gambler.". That will tell you what an answer is. Apart from Acts arguably Luke or Paul wrote it and Paul wrote the others - does anyone else say Paul could do miracles? The Apostolic Gifts are no longer in operation today: 1) Laying on of hands to heal someone (if this were still the case, then people could walk into nursing homes and hospitals and begin healing people left-and-right, but this doesn't happen. Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. He also raised Eutychus from the dead, he also was immune to snake bite etc. This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? His letter to the Philippians was just one of four "Prison Epistles" written during this time. distressed because you had heard that he was sick." Philippians 1:25, and note), was not, it seems, continuous; both were exercised only in accordance with the revealed will of God and on occasions of especial moment. In the first six letters, all written during the period covered by the Book of Acts, we find that the sign gifts were operating in all these churches. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles. Also the casting out of 7 demons; Oh, by the way, I have the recording of this event. When is the last time that this happened to you? He says that Epaphroditus risked his life to 'supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.' Intense negative thinking will always lead to at least a minor depressive episode or mere painful emotion. It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. it this way: Epaphroditus is a model for all of us to follow. When I was in the military I met brothers and 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." Although many people have concerns about the cost of healthcare, the vast majority of people in our culture still have access to antibiotics and other medications that can cure ailments that were almost certainly death sentences only a few decades ago. Vote Up I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send Introduction to Paul's Letter to the Philippians - BJUtoday 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. The word "longing" is epipotheo, it Simply: Stop! here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the life, it was mercy to me. Paul continued on to Corinth where he wrote the two letters to the Thessalonians. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. 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. She's the If I walk down the street and I get a word of knowledge for someone, it is 1. We are co-laborers. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble Paul would history, used all through the LXX to refer to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant and the They were to receive him "in the Lord." Epaphroditus was a Christian who lived in Philippi. The order of these first six books is: In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond. . 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.' He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the But Paul Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. 1:2) and Titus (Tit. Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. 28 Therefore I am sending him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and that I may be less anxious. 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. God healed me of heart disease. The answer is: He wouldn't have! 2:4) had passed away by this time. Epaphroditus: A Gambling Veteran - Associates for Biblical Research When he recovers, Paul sends him back to Philippi So, to sum up what we have seen so far, from Acts 9 through Acts 28 we read of the earlier ministry of the Apostle Paul and find that during these years he wrote 6 of his 13 letters. Why Did the Philippians Send Paul a Gift? | Zondervan Academic What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. Are Most who do not believe in Divine Healing have not been taught the TRUTH of what the Word really says. 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! 2:25-30). serve, you can meet physical needs. Many Christians today have had an experience that they think is the scriptural gift of tongues. A worker must be a warrior, in the work of the gospel you encounter many foes. This is How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? 2:25-30) and Paul no longer had the gift of healing, and was no longer able to heal as he did only a few years earlier in Acts 28:9. send him back? function. commissioned and sent out Timothy. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. Have you taken the tour of our site yet? Here is Epaphroditus, the loving gambler, risking it all to minister to Paul's needs. 12:9). The Kenosis of Epaphroditus - Berean Bible Church Paul would go on to write 13 letters in the New Testamentfrom the Letter to the Romans to the Letter to Philemon. Those thoughts would have contributed to his feelings of frustration, mental anguish, distress, or low self-worth. involved in. Not only did they intend for him to be the bearer of their gift; they also intended for him to stay in Rome and be Paul's personal servant and attendant. In fact, it is the words we tell ourselves about people, self, experiences, life, in general, God, the future, the past, the present. Paul's first burst of gratitude and praise does not exhaust all that he has to say about Epaphroditus. 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 Testament use of this word. 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. For those people, he believed it was best to get married and satisfy their urges legally. 1000 Chattanooga Street