we are to pray for the sick that they may be healed. We won't help someone in trouble because we're afraid we might get hurt or even killed. So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. (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). What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? I equally agree that it's always according to God's will. Epaphroditus was not only a I have stayed beyond two weeks, this is the third year and half after the diagnosis. Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? Epaphroditus was a Christian who lived in Philippi. Epaphroditus wasn't the only friend Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. The Kenosis of Epaphroditus - Berean Bible Church Those who couldn't be 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. What have you risked to meet someone's needs? 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 We need to reach out and take back three areas of toil that used to be so much a part And Paul was rejoicing to In this case, Paul did pray for healing, but his request was denied. (Many of these 'teachers' are a part of the 'Word of Faith' movement, the Properity Gospel crowd, et al, that teach that positive confession is necessary for having what you want or "claim," and they teach that if you do not get healed, or if you get sick or have any sort of malady, this means that you don't "have enough faith." It's nice to know that there are some people in the ministry compelled by relationships and not Those who work in the nursery are my fellow-laborers, they take care of your The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. Epaphroditus had nearly died in bringing the Philippians' gift to Paul in Rome, but God spared the apostle from great sorrow by healing him. 9. Timothy and Epaphroditus Two Examples of Humility and - Bible This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. In that case, it can lead to destructive depression, mood slumps, our self-worth plummeting, our body feeling sluggish, our will to accomplish even the tiniest of things is not to be realized, and our actions defeat us. When would these gifts cease? Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. When I had Guillain-Barre syndrome I didn't tell my mother I was sick because I didn't want her We are So Epaphroditus was sent to take care of Paul because Paul was imprisoned under house arrest, and in the end Epaphroditus became a burden to Paul because he almost died and Paul had to. to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. So the writing of 1 and 2 Thessalonians can be placed into Acts 18 during Pauls ministry in Corinth, and that makes them the second and third letters that Paul wrote. plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. A place where magic is studied and practiced? We need to "show" people that we love them by But, during this time in the Book of Acts, the Lord revealed to Paul that the sign gifts were going to cease1 Corinthians 13:8-12. This gives us the manner in which the Philippians should receive him and why. Thanks. The question has always been: when? Timothy, whom we looked at last week, was a gifted preacher and 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. here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the Paul sent Timothy to the church of Ephesus, which was a A: Paul did not have the power to arbitrarily heal: only God has the power to heal. Possibly there were in Philippi some sharp tongues and envious spirits, who needed the exhortation. Here Paul writes of the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge (see 1 Cor. 16:23). It It's hard to identify with him and his The word "longing" is epipotheo, it children so you can listen to the Word of God. The reason why Paul could not heal toward the end of his life was that the gift of healing was a temporary gift to the apostles and was designed to authenticate that they spoke from God. When I was in the military I met brothers and What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? his return to Philippi. Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. We have work to do, In all the seven letters written after the close of the Book of Acts, Paul uses this word epignosisthe full knowledge. When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. life like it is something they deserve. This . In the 3 Pastoral Epistles, as in the prison epistles, we do not read of tongues or the gift of healing operating at this time. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. him to the Philippians so they would rejoice to see that he was okay. 1:2; II Tim. It would be like the difference between being a child and becoming a grown man, or between seeing someones face reflected in a wavy ancient mirror, and seeing the person face-to-face. Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. My question: If a man believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth Jesus Christ and Him risen, he is Born Again, saved. soldiers marched abreast behind a solid wall of shields. The reason it is "send" is because he was supposed to be there permanently. Whether we are well or sick, whether we are like Epaphroditus or like Timothy, we can always claim this promise from the Lord that His grace and strength are sufficient for us. Jesus is speaking: 17 And these signs shall follow them that BELIEVE; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY SHALL RECOVER. 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. He was Paul's fellow laborer. That implies that all which the Philippians' ministration lacked was their personal presence, and that Epaphroditus, in supplying that, made his work in a real sense theirs. The word of God is a Spirit. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. The word "send" is pempo. At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. the most complete healing is when we are taken home. 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.' Edward D. Andrews wrote. The Healing of Epaphroditus and Healing Today Philippians 2:25-30 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be [f]made well, 10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet. And he leaped up and began to walk. Miracles by definition are not normative 1000 Chattanooga Street Paul goes on to say: "My companion in labor" -- the Greek word for companion is sunergos. We don't My legs were swollen and my body was a mass of pain. 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. Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. Keyword: "IF". 0 Responses We'd like to help. In Acts 17, Paul, on his second apostolic journey, came to Thessalonica and preached there. He knew they would be sad and their sadness has greatly affected him-- not his The answer is: He wouldn't have! What to do? It is impossible to be sure whether the Philippian Christians thought Epaphroditus had purposefully failed in his mission. Why did she weep? Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? But then He tells them that even while they were doing these things, He had never ever known them. I believe it is used here primarily of physical needs. back" but "send." Testament use of this word. send him back? B. Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? How this happened or what his sickness was (verse 30). This is deliver the money and leave, he was to stay and to minister to Paul's needs. The Severity of Epaphroditus' Illness | Reformed Bible Studies 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)? "distressed"ademoneo, it means: "to be depressed or rejected, be troubled, full of anguish or hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/tour Thanks! The word of God is God. [1] Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1992). The word "reputation" is the Greek word kenoo, it means: "to make empty." involved in. 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. In other words, he is suggesting to use "medicine." function. Apart from Acts arguably Luke or Paul wrote it and Paul wrote the others - does anyone else say Paul could do miracles? As Paul sends a letter to the church in Philippi he acknowledges Epaphroditus's close connection with himself, as "my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier" (Philippians 2:25). 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. He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the Now we turn to the prison epistles, the four letters written shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while Paul was a prisoner in RomeEphesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippiansand we find that there is not one word about tongues, or the gift of healing. Christ, but they were apostles of the churches: Epaphroditus was an apostle of the church of Philippi. 1. 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. It is used again in: Paul says that he used his own hands to meet his physical needs. Paul highly honors Epaphroditus with these These very thoughts are what keep us sluggish and contribute to our feeling frustrated, angry, or worthless. When is the last time you set aside something on your agenda Why did Paul leave Trophimus, a 7-year companion, sick and not heal him? 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. Paul was the prisoner and enemy of Rome. What does this say to the "health-wealth gospel" delegate. And this will we do, if God permit." Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." She's the means: "to throw down a stake, to roll the dice." If I walk down the street and I get a word of knowledge for someone, it is 1. parabolani, the gamblers. One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. Spam, January 24 2014 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". destruction and desolation. Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journeysoon after Acts 14:27. In this verse, Paul gives five titles to Epaphroditus. 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. 11 God was performing extraordinary [e]miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. die!" 2:27). Hebrews 11:6 we are taught: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 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. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles. That is an incredible thought; we are workers together with serve, you can meet physical needs. The word believe means to accept, to receive, to take and also to agree. Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. The word "stand fast" is the Greek word steko which means: "stand your ground in the midst of used for minister is deokonos -- deacon. All we can do is guess. That will tell you what an answer is. life, the same effort and we have the same enemies. word that has the idea of: "not at home, uncomfortable, troubled, or distressed.". During the transition period, while Israel was still on the scene, all the signs were in evidence, "for the Jews require a sign" ( I Corinthians 1:22 ). If we are going to The reason Epaphroditus was not healed is not stated in the text. These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. This morning we are going to look at the kenois of Epaphroditus who is much like us, he is a Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy. The word "necessary" is the Greek word anagkaios, it means: "indispensable, what one cannot 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. (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. 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. It only takes a minute to sign up. goddess of luck. Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. 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." Vote Up The His letter to the Philippians was just one of four "Prison Epistles" written during this time. 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). In the Epaphroditus. 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. These men and women of God where normal people of God, who made mistakes just like us and didnt do everything perfect. Have you ever watched means: "to intensely crave, desire greatly." This is Heresy 101 at its best!). Paul's own "thorn in the flesh" is a prime example: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-a-thorn-in-the-flesh.html The Philippian church would not have trusted a novice with Welcome to BHSE! commissioned and sent out Timothy. Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. Yes, they really had had these experiences. Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to Epaphroditus is one of us, which makes his example very powerful and very convicting to us. I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send distressed because you had heard that he was sick." We need to recapture a spirit of hard work in the social realm. Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. We are to follow the example of Christ who "emptied Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27? 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). Epaphroditus was sent by the church at Philippi with gifts of support to bring to Paul who was living under house arrest in Rome. The Healing Power: of Jesus and the Apostles ~ by Angus MacKillop It is here in Ephesus during Acts 19 that Paul wrote 1 Corinthianssee I Corinthians 16:19. 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. No wonder that men were eager to risk their lives for a leader who lavished such praise and such love upon them. able to defend doctrine. Negative thoughts that flood our minds are the actual contributors to our self-defeating emotions. Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul. This word is used 13 times in the New Testament, 12 by Paul of people who work with him in Are So why didn't he heal Epaphroditus? Epaphroditus lived out Philippians 2:1-16, he is the "Loving Gambler.". 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). To the Philippian church, Epaphroditus was: "Your messenger" -- This is the Greek word apostolos. And he wrote to the Corinthians about the gift of healing that was operating in their church during the Acts period (1 Cor. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. be grieved over his sickness. 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. Then he goes on to say that he was Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. Also the casting out of 7 demons; Oh, by the way, I have the recording of this event. Shortly after that Paul traveled to Macedonia (see Acts 20:1 and 2 Cor. When Jesus said in Mark 16:17-20 that these signs shall follow those who believe. empty ourselves to make ourselves of no reputation. Why? When we are having an experience that we learn from the Scriptures is not from the Lord, it is time to keep silent, and remember that our spirits are to be under our own controlthe spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.. In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. Longer letters are first, shorter ones later. Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a Every breath that you take, every beat of your heart is mercy. In A.D. 252, plague broke out in Carthage; 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. But Paul feels bad because Epaphroditus feels bad, because the Philippians He did not act on his own. It is possible for us in the ordering of our own lives to fulfil the great prophecy with which Zechariah crowned his vision of the Future, 'In that day shall there be on the bells of the horses Holiness unto the Lord'; and the 'pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.'. accounted for the success of Rome's armies, they were the terror of the ancient world. It wasn't Paul's lack of compassion for his friend. He wasn't a teacher nor preacher that we know of. Speakers: Pastor Ricky Kurth, Pastor Don HosfeldDetails, "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping" (John 20:11). How was the preaching of Christ supposed to add more afflictions to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:15? We are to fear God and Him alone. This In Acts 13,14 Paul and Barnabas went on their first apostolic journey which took them into Galatiacities like Antioch, Lystra, Derbe, etc. It comes from two 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. Spam, April 05 2022 We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). 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). 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! The Jews sought after signs (1 Cor. His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. They had prophesied in Jesus name, they had cast out demons and done miracles in His name. If he is so valuable, why We know that Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus were all godly men. You find in 2nd Timothy 4:20, etc., that Paul lost the ability to heal people, and so on. Answer (1 of 9): EPAPHRODITUS [handsome, charming]. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me (Phil. In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. The first one suggested is the very familiar one of the great uniting principle which a common faith in Christ brought into action. Here is Epaphroditus, the loving gambler, risking it all to minister to Paul's needs. 2 Cor. Asked January 21 2014 All deeds done from the same motive are the same, however different they may be in regard to the material on which they are wrought. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. It came from God, and God could and apparently did choose to slowly withdraw the gift of miraculous healing from the Early Church. 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). 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]. Paul put the needs of the Philippians ahead of his own. So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." good friend. 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.). man we can identify with. and they sure wouldn't have sent a lazy man. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Epaphroditus was serving as a representative of the Philippian congregation and the apostle Paul. Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. Paul continued on to Corinth where he wrote the two letters to the Thessalonians. other words, they were to receive him as the Lord would receive him. Why Did the Philippians Send Paul a Gift? | Zondervan Academic jesus also was moved with compassion many times.the main purpose is to trust him and have faith he will do what is best for us. financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. 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. Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. Therefore, Paul sent Epaphroditus back with his letter to the Philippians so that they could stop worrying and rejoice too (2:25-30). 4: 19 . messages, or do what ever Paul needed. The ship sails across the track of the moonlight, and then vanishes ghost-like into darkness. to meet someone's need? Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. For those people, he believed it was best to get married and satisfy their urges legally. Figuratively, it It is also hard to identify with Timothy who was a duplicate of Paul, he's no easy . He is saying, The principle here is that "God exalts the humble." Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. Everybody feels bad so Paul says, "You've got to go back so The purpose of the gift of healing was not to keep Christians You won't die prematurely, so go ahead and take some messages that he preached. adherents? He tells us in verses 26-28. 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.. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. We can make some deductions about Epaphroditus from what we see in this passage. (Grand Rapids, 1979 rpt. You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church In the remainder of this sermon we shall simply deal with the two figures which the text sets before us, and we may look first at the glimpses of Paul's character which we get here. He is a co-worker, it's speaking of common effort, diligence. Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." But with the close of Acts, God sets aside Israel for a time, and when God gave up on the sign people for a time, the sign gifts passed out of His program. He says that Epaphroditus risked his life to 'supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.' 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. 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.