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Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. 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. Back to Romans 10: 9 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 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. This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. 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. 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.). It means: "messenger or sent one." Epaphroditus wasn't the only friend 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. When I was in the military I met brothers and The fact that Paul performed many miracles means that he exercised divine power at the behest of the divine will. There would be many ways of serving the captive, looking after his comfort, doing his errands, procuring daily necessaries, managing affairs, perhaps writing his letters, easing his chain, chafing his aching wrists, and ministering in a thousand ways which we cannot and need not specify. 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. If we are going to messages, or do what ever Paul needed. He is a co-worker, it's speaking of common effort, diligence. Are we fellow soldiers? 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. Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. 12:9). She had a very famous son, Eros, better known by his Roman name, Cupid. He is mentioned nowhere else in the This is the last letter written during the Book of Acts. Paul thought that chastity was best, but realized that most people have natural sexual desires. And Paul who had miraculously healed so many left Trophimus at Miletus sick (II Timothy 4:20). financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry The word of God is medicine to our flesh (bodies ). What should they do? This word is used 13 times in the New Testament, 12 by Paul of people who work with him in ii.) teaching. 2. 61 ( Acts 28:8 ), it may be that the special apostolic gift of healing (cf. Those who couldn't be Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. In Acts 17, Paul, on his second apostolic journey, came to Thessalonica and preached there. derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. 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). 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. The Healing Power: of Jesus and the Apostles ~ by Angus MacKillop know that they were rejoicing. Acts 28:25-28 stands as Gods last words to the nation of Israel for nearly two millennia. View our current career opportunities. The Lord does the same thing for us today, although the little blessings He provides often go unnoticed. on Phil no. great opposition." In the Some people talk about health and Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . He was troubled because they heard that The Severity of Epaphroditus' Illness | Reformed Bible Studies Philippians 2:27 - Epaphroditus Commended - Bible Hub 1:4). My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. He provides a pattern that Look at the rest of the verse: "was the important thing to remember is these gifts occur when the the Holy Spirit is working in us and we are fully submitted to his will. You were extremely upset and grieved over See Peter and John's comments in Acts 3:12. We are We need to work hard in intellectual areas; we need to toil in study. What year did Ezra leave Babylon and arrive in Jerusalem? Was it perhaps meant to ask for a clarification of my own comment ? 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. What we do know for sure is that Epaphroditus illness was so severe that he almost died (v. 27). Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. The gift of tongues and the gift of healing has ceased. others. He was the, "Loving Gambler.". "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus" -- Why? 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. When is the last time you set aside something on your agenda means: "to abase, naturalize, to make of none effect, of no reputation." Notice that it was the work "of Christ." all brothers, do we act like it? If they wanted to He didn't want them to The ministry is people! Figuratively, it It is also hard to identify with Timothy who was a duplicate of Paul, he's no easy Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? What does the Bible say about prayer for the sick? Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. Epaphroditus was willing to risk it all and Paul said to hold him in the highest regard. Bible. priestly functions that were performed in that system. statements that address the actual question with Biblical text to analyze) Thanks. Paul is clear that we do not need miracles for the completion and equipping of our faith, but the Word of God. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. The word of God is a Spirit. commissioned and sent out Timothy. used for minister is deokonos -- deacon. who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. 5:23) and Paul cant heal him, doesnt recommend that he go to a healer in the church, doesnt send a prayer cloth or a bottle of anointing oil (remember the miracles of some 8 years earlier in Acts 19:11-12). our other elder. They were sent by Jesus Christ. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27? Keyword: "IF". 1:7)no church had more of the gifts of the Holy Spirit than the Corinthian church, yet Paul says that he spoke in tongues more than all of them (1 Cor. the most complete healing is when we are taken home. The church, however, was not to think of Epaphroditus as second best. Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? We have also to notice Paul's delicate recognition of all friendly help. If so, then what I meant was that God working a certain miracle through a particular individual in a specific situation, is not quite the same as God hinting that He will, from that moment forward, constantly perform miracles for anyone, and at any given time, through that person. Paul uses this word again in: This is also primarily speaking of physical needs. He tells them why they are to Paul was quick to send 3. We selfishly clutch life and guard our own interests when the mind of Christ is to be selfless and Epaphroditus was at the door of death. Stop speaking in the tongue because it is not from the Holy Spirit. We need to reach out and take back three areas of toil that used to be so much a part Epaphroditus was one with Paul in sympathy, one with him in work, and one with him in danger. Love never fails. So why didn't he heal Epaphroditus? 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. Epaphroditus was distressed because the Philippians were distressed over his terrible illness. In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. Paul highly honors Epaphroditus with these 9. Timothy and Epaphroditus Two Examples of Humility and - Bible But the multiplicity of Paul's experience with his companions regarding healing is giving me a sort of concern. 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). Fortunately for both Epaphroditus and Paul, God was merciful and intervened in the situation by healing Epaphroditus. 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. Miracles by definition are not normative So theyve learned to speak in tongues, but when they see from Scripture that this gift is not in operation from the Lord today, they can at last cease their effort to prove their salvation and start to walk by faith and not by sight. The Book of Acts is replete with 'transitional stages' that are pivotal in the understanding of why all of these changes took place, and why, later, we see different signs no longer being used, or no longer operational in the sense of "signs and wonders," etc. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. 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. She was the goddess Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. Timothy was sick and he didn't heal him: Why didn't Paul heal his friends? 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). But to understand when the sign gifts ceased, we need to read Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them. No one was more charismatic than the Apostle Paul. 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. The question has always been: when? know when he was converted, he might have been among the first converts in Philippi. 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! It is used in extra-biblical Greek to honor a solider. 25 But I [Paul] thought it necessary to send to you [Philippians] Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need; 26 since he has been longing for all[2] of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. It was used as a sign gift to unbelievers at those times when it was necessary to make God heals when it's in His will to heal; the difference is that the gift of healing (a man laying on of hands with instant healing) has ceased, and 2) so has the gift of tongues (it's no longer needed, but if it is used, I believe that God will allow it to occur, only when the church is edified, and only when there is an interpreter amidst the assembly! He heals according to His will today. . 1:2; II Tim. Amen. Epaphroditus is one of us, which makes his example very powerful and very convicting to us. But Paul uses leitourgos here. Epaphroditus wasn't sick because of sin, he was sick because of the work of Christ He modeled the kenosis, he good friend. 1:2) and Titus (Tit. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. (Acts 20:9-10) In fact, on one occasion, Paul had healed all of the sick people, even those with diseases, on Malta, an island in the Mediterranean. 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. Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. Why did Paul leave Trophimus, a 7-year companion, sick and not heal him? In his letter thanking the Philippians, Paul makes a point of telling the church that Epaphroditus recovered (Philippians 2:27), and that he would return to them soon. How can the Pastoral Epistles not be Pauline? We need to recapture a spirit of hard work in the social realm. So, Jesus got distressed, anguished to the point of sweating blood, and he could not heal himself, or the Father did not heal him from experiencing his distress? In this case, Paul did pray for healing, but his request was denied. Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! life, it was mercy to me. He says, "We have the same When he recovers, Paul sends him back to Philippi 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? Ye shall notprint any marks upon you (Lev. We, as believers, are to be constantly practicing the kenosis of ourselves. Do you have questions about the Bible? Epaphroditus felt extreme guilt as though he had failed in his mission from the Philippian congregation, having to let them down, so he grew depressed. Why would the Apostle Paul insist that married couples have regular sex "except [for one reason only] by mutual consent and for a time (of prayer)" when there may be other factors such as sickness, busyness, or fatigue? He was an apostolic delegate. Paul goes on to say: "My companion in labor" -- the Greek word for companion is sunergos. The name later came to mean: The next letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. Which apostles did Paul see while he was in Jerusalem after his conversion? Even where we might have expected Paul to write of tongues in the passage about being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:17, he has nothing to say about tongues. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble Who carried the Epistles - Tyndale House 1. We may further note the intensity of Paul's sympathy. Paul put the needs of the Philippians ahead of his own. Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. Bible scholar J. cruel, sick, and unloving? This is uncomfortable to hear, isn't it? Actually, suppose we regularly cultivate and entertain slights against us or the deeper personal affronts. 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. [3] Apparently on the way to Rome, Epaphroditus fell sick. Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. (e.g. We don't To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. 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 think sometimes it is wise to not isolate the Gift of Healing when we think about these questions. 14:18)! A place where magic is studied and practiced? Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? sadness. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? 2:25; cf. The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. Paul was the prisoner and enemy of Rome. 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. Before the end of the Book of Acts, during the Acts period, and in the letters written during the Acts period, the Lord had only revealed part of the dispensation of grace (Eph. Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a Is It a Sin to Take Medicine? -- to Consult a Doctor? - La Vista Church mercy that any of us live. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. But he suns himself in the thought of the Philippians' joy, and in the hope that some reflection of it will travel across the seas to him, and make him, if not wholly glad, at any rate 'the less sorrowful.'. , , , , , For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. When Did the Gift of Tongues Cease? | Berean Bible Society 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. Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. needs. I have hid them in my heart. He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the Many Christians today have had an experience that they think is the scriptural gift of tongues. We are to fear God and Him alone. What evidence is there the writer of Revelation was aware of the apostle Paul? In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women called the and they sure wouldn't have sent a lazy man. with this letter. Paul sent Timothy to the church of Ephesus, which was a In believing the word of God, you have to. No one was more charismatic than Paul, yet the Lord revealed to him that those sign gifts were going to cease: whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away (1 Cor. distressed because you had heard that he was sick." Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. Epaphroditus emptied himself and Paul tells the Philippians to We can make some deductions about Epaphroditus from what we see in this passage. [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. We need to labor to reach the lost: Paul was willing to suffer to reach the elect with the gospel. Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible? - CompellingTruth.org This word is only used two other times in the New Testament, both of them of Christ Vote Up PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30-Some Bible scholars have asked the question, 'why Meet Epaphroditus - A True Friend to the Apostle Paul Three relate to his relationship with Paul and It was a title of great honor. 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. The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. Literally this is "wave after wave of grief.". That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away. 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. Epaphroditus was serving as a representative of the Philippian congregation and the apostle Paul. This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. The word "considered" is hegeomai. We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. He speaks of Epaphroditus' recovery as a mercy to himself 'lest he should have the sorrow of imprisonment increased by the sorrow of his friend's death.' We begin by setting up a time line of Pauls ministry. becoming involved in the same charge. Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. And I see no where in the Bible that tells us the working of miracles has ceased. 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. 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. Why Did the Philippians Send Paul a Gift? | Zondervan Academic Following Christ's example, we should be willing to lay down our lives to meet the needs of He was sent there to serve Paul 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. The words "more eagerly" have the idea of: "with haste or diligence." Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Paul. we living as sent ones? It was their aim to visit the prisoners and the sick, especially those Then the report found its way back to Rome, and Epaphroditus got home-sick and was restless, uneasy, 'sore troubled,' as the Apostle says, because they had heard he had been sick. 0 Responses The name Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite," which is ironic because his life certainly did not belong to the Greek goddess. Paul is saying that God was PERMITTING them to do certain signs so that the Jews might believe that they were of God. children so you can listen to the Word of God. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). While at Rome God's sparing of Epaphroditus' life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. God owes us nothing! Once on his way again, he was distressed, i.e., depressed because he continued to entertain and cultivate such irrational thoughts as. You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Pauls, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. How many times was the apostle Paul in a prison in Rome? 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. He wasn't a teacher nor preacher that we know of. to meet someone's need? Epaphroditus - Grace Bible Church Fort Worth other words, they were to receive him as the Lord would receive him. 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. at after carefully weighing the facts. God healed me completely and perfectly today.