We are to follow the example of Christ who "emptied Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. We'd like to help. The Hardison's are all fellow-laborers with me. 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. needs could be involved here, he ministered to Paul in the area of companionship also. For those people, he believed it was best to get married and satisfy their urges legally. Do you know who my co-laborers are? 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. His letter to the Philippians was just one of four "Prison Epistles" written during this time. In fact, in 1 Timothy 5:23, look what Paul recommended: Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. to meet someone's need? He was in the second place the minister to Paul's needs. The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. Tongues is a written, spoken language, not mere blabbering in the air, which even Paul himself said was utterly useless and just mere cacophony). Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. (Grand Rapids, 1979 rpt. Having seen the pattern of truth regarding the gifts, we need to ask, why did the gifts cease at this time? A trustworthy member of the congregation at Philippi, Macedonia, who was sent with a gift to Paul, then a prisoner at Rome (c. 60-61 C.E.). Why didn't Paul healed Epaphroditus and Trophimus? distressed because you had heard that he was sick." Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. Epaphroditus emptied himself and Paul tells the Philippians to No, the answer is that God's program had changed. Epaphroditus. (See below left). How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? What he had not yet received in 1 Corinthians 13, he now has. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. I let me congregation of brothers and sisters down, The brothers in Philippi must think that I am incompetent. The Christian Apologists (150 220 C.E.). In fact, we are so accustomed to recovering from sickness that we are often surprised when we or others take a long time to get over what we regard as routine illnesses. everyone will be glad and not sad.". 3:2) to the Apostle Paul, but He had not yet revealed the entire message to him. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. The word "stand fast" is the Greek word steko which means: "stand your ground in the midst of Timothy and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:19-30) The reason Epaphroditus was not healed is not stated in the text. In Gaiuss home, in Corinth, Paul wrote the letter to the Romans (see Rom. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble June 11th 2000, I came to the Lord, He healed me of lung cancer, irreversible nerve damage caused by my lifestyle and replaced 3 discs in my lower back that were gone: vertebra rubbing vertebra. 1. You find in 2nd Timothy 4:20, etc., that Paul lost the ability to heal people, and so on. But, what happened? We don't Epaphroditus was also a common noun. How can the Pastoral Epistles not be Pauline? James (Gal. Indeed he was ill, near to death. 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). 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. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? We have also to notice Paul's delicate recognition of all friendly help. And in verses 29-30, we are given the exaltation and kenosis of Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was The ship sails across the track of the moonlight, and then vanishes ghost-like into darkness. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. 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. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 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. others. Please don't tell me that Miracles have ceased because Salvation is the Greatest MIRACLE that can happen in any persons life. Introduction to Paul's Letter to the Philippians - BJUtoday A caressing hand on a horse's neck is better than a whip. He was Paul's fellow laborer. We as Berean Bible Church need to work at They were sent by Jesus Christ. 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). 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. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? empty ourselves to make ourselves of no reputation. 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. There was no reliable way of getting these to Paul but to take them, and so Epaphroditus faced the long journey across Greece to Brindisi and Rome, and when arrived there threw himself with ardour into serving Paul. 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. Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. 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. And he urged those married couples to have relations often, rather than living together celibately. in Corinth again, and spent three months there enjoying the hospitality of a believer named Gaius (mentioned in 1 Cor. the most complete healing is when we are taken home. Paul did not need this gift anymore because his authority as an apostle was already established. The text does say, God had mercy on him [that is, Ephaphroditus], so, in all likelihood, he would have died from whatever ailed him if God had not prevented him from going over the edge into death. 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? 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. Epaphroditus wasn't the only friend Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. Yes, they really had had these experiences. I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send 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. we are all from the same womb, we're family. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. Bible. 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." Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a 3. 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.. Hello Uche Ogu, welcome to BHSE, glad to have you with us! that Paul didn't heal. 1 Corinthians 7:5. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death - Dr. Paley has remarked (Hor. Vote Up ", "Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow" -- his sickness brought Paul sorrow and his death What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? The gifts were all in operation all through the Book of Acts period and are mentioned in the letters written during that time, but the Lord had revealed that the sign gifts were going to cease at some time in the future. If he is so valuable, why I also believe the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. life, it was mercy to me. Edward D. Andrews wrote. 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. Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? with his life to serve Christ and man. Thanks. The context gives us an interesting miniature of the last, and pathetic glimpses into the private life of the Apostle in his imprisonment, and it is worth our while to try to bring our historic imagination to bear on Epaphroditus, and to make him a living man. The miracles of healing that the Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? looked at it as "spiritual worship." We are to be working to Epaphroditus - Grace Bible Church Fort Worth at after carefully weighing the facts. 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. The answer is: He wouldn't have! Those things are just as We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? well established church, to straighten out their doctrine. He comes back to the theme in the last words of the context, where he says that the Philippian messenger had 'hazarded' his life, or, as we might put it with equal accuracy and more force, had 'gambled' his life, or 'staked it on the die' for Paul's sake. What we do know for sure is that Epaphroditus illness was so severe that he almost died (v. 27). theological term "kenosis.". 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. self, to give of himself wholly to others. And this will we do, if God permit." 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.' 4: 19 . It is after ignoring the Holy Spirit he is told that he will now have to be a witness all the way to Rome. Historians tell us that he had a very common name. When would these gifts cease? We need to work hard in intellectual areas; we need to toil in study. John 1:12 ). 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.'. Many in this movement even say shocking claims such as the erroneous idea that being poor is a sin, and that if you are sick, "it's your fault that you're sick." It does not contain doubt, but refers to a decision arrived The miraculous powers that Paul exercised were not his own; that is, they were not innate. do without." becoming involved in the same charge. We're a little different than other sites. Paul does not seem to have healed Epaphroditus. Since no exercise of the gift of healing is recorded past about ?._. a uniquely spiritual act. However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. used for minister is deokonos -- deacon. 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 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). Is It a Sin to Take Medicine? -- to Consult a Doctor? - La Vista Church Paul is honoring Epaphroditus with these titles. It is a compound word from 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. Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? 2:25-27) He likely longed to know that they knew of and understood his circumstances. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. The apostle Paul had a variety of Gifts including tongues, prophecy and teaching. Paul says, No. His was a singular fate -- to cross Paul's path, and for one short period of his life to be known to all the world, and for all the rest before and after to be utterly unknown. 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. ESV - The reason it is "send" is because he was supposed to be there permanently. Our thoughts based on a good mood will be entirely different from those based on our being upset. 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. [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). chained to a guard: The Philippians, upon hearing about Paul's needs, took an offering and sent it by the hand of He is saying, Philippians 2:27 - Epaphroditus Commended - Bible Hub He says, "We have the same Paul was quick to send with this letter. Where was Paul when he wrote to the Philippians? 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. Epaphroditus but passes across the illuminated disc of the lantern for a moment, and we have scarcely time to catch a glimpse of his face before it is lost to us. 2. There were only 14 apostles in the official sense, the 12 plus Paul and 1:11,12) that a time was coming when these sign gifts were going to cease to operate. He was sent by them, he was their The order of these first six books is: In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond. As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. spiritual as teaching. 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. 2:27). We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27? 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. 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. Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. If they wanted to Epaphroditus to you." 3:3,4,9 and Col. 1:26,27, etc.). He knew they would be sad and their sadness has greatly affected him-- not his (e.g. The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? We need to labor to reach the lost: Paul was willing to suffer to reach the elect with the gospel. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). messages that he preached. When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. 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." They labor in setting up the This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. 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. the proclamation of the gospel effective. Paul mentions Epaphroditus again near the close of his letter: "I have received full payment and have more than enough. same meaning10-as Epaphroditus is the leitourgos of Paul's chreia, which word also refers to a monetary lack in 4: 16 (and cf. He was a man of courage-- anyone who would offer himself as the personal attendant of a The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. 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. But we read that Epaphroditus was healeddirectly by the Lord: He was sick unto death but the Lord had mercy on him.. View all posts by Christian Publishing House, UASV DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022. We have work to do, Vote Up the heathen threw out the bodies of their dead and fled in terror. 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.' Jesus said the greatest honor among his followers belongs to the one who renders the 8 Responses Paul might have no longer had the use of it, but even if he did, it was not intended for believers. die!" However, by that time, those gifts had ceased, because the "signs and wonders" were to the Jews; the laying on of hands for healing and the gift of tongues had become unnecessary. What Does Philippians 4:13 Mean, 'I Can Do All Things through Christ'? 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. means: "to intensely crave, desire greatly." function. church each week. He was sent there to serve Paul They are spiritual, priestly functions. At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul. The Jews sought after signs (1 Cor. However, God, who can do things as He chooses, chose not to immediately heal Epaphroditus. 0 Responses However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. Paul had the gift of healing didn't he? What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. Too often our attitude is, "I can't help, I could catch it and He's probably one of the greatest Christians that ever lived. 16:23). The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. It is all the words that we say to ourselves all the time. 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. When we arrange the letters in the order that they were written, all becomes clear! Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 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. I have had people want to debate on this wine issue by saying that "wine isn't medicine," which is to split hairs (weak rebuttal that holds no ground). 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. He hazzard his life "to supply what was lacking in your service toward The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preachI'm sorry, but there is no "Word of Faith Movement." It came from God, and God could and apparently did choose to slowly withdraw the gift of miraculous healing from the Early Church. He as a spiritually mature man. means: "to abase, naturalize, to make of none effect, of no reputation." We simply don't know why Epaphroditus was so sick, aside from the statement in v. 30 that "he came close to death for the work of Christ." The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. We have no record of any Work done for Paul was done for Jesus, and that, not because of any special apostolic closeness of relation of Paul to Jesus, but because, like all other Christians, he was one with his Lord. So Paul with rare abnegation sent him away at once, though Timothy was to follow shortly, and accompanied him with this outpouring of love and praise in his long homeward journey. 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. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. The gift of tongues and the gift of healing has ceased. He was the, "Loving Gambler.". 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. All things are possible to them that believe Mark 9:23. It means: "messenger or sent one." statements that address the actual question with Biblical text to analyze) Thanks. These very thoughts are what keep us sluggish and contribute to our feeling frustrated, angry, or worthless. Do you have questions about the Bible? The Kenosis of Epaphroditus - Berean Bible Church But the Spam, "Let a search be made in the royal archives" Ezra 5:17 NIV, Pastor of the Community Bible Church in Aguila, Arizona, One beggar leading others to where the bread is. 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. That was one less thing Paul had to be concerned about (2:26-27). 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus" -- Why? Christ emptied Epaphroditus wasn't sick because of sin, he was sick because of the work of Christ It has an interesting And in 2 Thessalonians 2:5 Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his teaching, as if it had not been very long since he had been with them. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Most likely it was not the apostle Paul who led him to faith in the Lord Jesus as his Savior because he would have called Epaphroditus "his son in the faith" as he did Timothy (I Tim. financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry Is there a Bible contradiction in Philippians 2:25? - Defending Inerrancy (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." good friend. If Epaphroditus were 'received in the Lord,' there would be no foolish and hurtful adulation of him, nor prostration before him, but he would be recognised as but the instrument through which the true Helper worked, and not he, but the Grace of Christ in him would finally receive the praise. delegate. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. messages, or do what ever Paul needed. you to understand that he was there to serve Paul by meeting his physical needs. If the Apostle Paul still retained the gift of healing by laying on of hands (or healing, in general), then there is absolutely no way under the sun that he (Paul) would have left any brother sick. See Peter and John's comments in Acts 3:12. Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Literally this is "wave after wave of grief.".
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