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). Where was Paul when he wrote to the Philippians? 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 should they do? 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)? 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. chained to a guard: The Philippians, upon hearing about Paul's needs, took an offering and sent it by the hand of Those thoughts would have contributed to his feelings of frustration, mental anguish, distress, or low self-worth. It is a pathetic little picture of the Macedonian stranger in the great city -- pallid looks, recent illness, and pining for home and a breath of pure mountain air, and for the friends he had left. The first 6 of Pauls letters can be fit into the Book of Actswe can read Acts and then read Pauls letters and we can see where Paul was when he wrote these letters. View our current career opportunities. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. That is an incredible thought; we are workers together with Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead. The answer is: He wouldn't have! 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. 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. Colossians 1:7 of a different man. The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. We know that Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus were all godly men. 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. 0 Responses Paul does not seem to have healed Epaphroditus. Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. 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). looked at it as "spiritual worship." 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. Those who work in the nursery are my fellow-laborers, they take care of your unto death" -- the word "almost" is paraplesion, it literally means: "along side of a neighbor, guarding our lives and start taking some risks in order to meet the needs of others. 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. The church, however, was not to think of Epaphroditus as second best. The Lord does not deny that they had done these things. Take medicine, for example. Epaphroditus was one with Paul in sympathy, one with him in work, and one with him in danger. We are to fear God and Him alone. Once on his way again, he was distressed, i.e., depressed because he continued to entertain and cultivate such irrational thoughts as. teaching. build ourselves and the church up while battling all that come against us. It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. 1:1, 15-19). The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. Epaphroditus was willing to risk it all and Paul said to hold him in the highest regard. 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.). But the In believing the word of God, you have to. Epaphroditus was ministering to Paul physically; he brought him a 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. The Hardison's are all fellow-laborers with me. Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. Paul. The problem with the death of a believer is that the separation hurts. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. for a possible gain. Paul thought that chastity was best, but realized that most people have natural sexual desires. 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). 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. man awaiting trial on a capital charge was laying himself open to the very considerable risk of Testament use of this word. . Greek He was sick 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. The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. May we not further draw from Paul's words here a lesson as to the honour due to Christian workers? I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send Paul commends Epaphroditus very highly for his faithfulness even unto death. "Almost What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? It is not "send The word "considered" is hegeomai. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. speaks of a common origin. 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. Is there a solutiuon to add special characters from software and how to do it, Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain. delegate. plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. 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. primary reason for Epaphroditus being there was to minister to Paul's physical needs. 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. Vote Up It is a gambling term. necessity, that which is lacking." No! he was sick. Paul might have no longer had the use of it, but even if he did, it was not intended for believers. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. parabolani, the gamblers. The letters are also arranged by lengthRomans is longest and is first, then the Corinthian letters, then Galatians, etc. He and all his brethren are gone, but his name lives for ever, and Paul's praise of him and of his work outshines all else remembered of the city, where conquerors once reigned, and outside whose walls was fought a battle that decided for a time the fate of the world. 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. It came from God, and God could and apparently did choose to slowly withdraw the gift of miraculous healing from the Early Church. 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. When Jesus said in Mark 16:17-20 that these signs shall follow those who believe. 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. In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. 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. Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles. Paul also had another concern on his heart. 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. Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." Paul is saying that God was PERMITTING them to do certain signs so that the Jews might believe that they were of God. everyone will be glad and not sad.". It is impossible to be sure whether the Philippian Christians thought Epaphroditus had purposefully failed in his mission. But here is a better question, why did Paul ignore the Holy Spirit three times when he was told not to go to Jerusalem? You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church He healed Epaphroditus, but He did not heal Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 or in Galatians 4:13-15, or Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, or Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. It is not confined to [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. Epaphroditus is Vote Up 1:11,12) that a time was coming when these sign gifts were going to cease to operate. No matter where you go you can find God's family. Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). What year did Ezra leave Babylon and arrive in Jerusalem? Consider the Book of Mark chapter 16 verses 17-20. Ministering to others' physical needs is a spiritual priestly The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. Why did she weep? We are What have you risked to meet someone's needs? 1000 Chattanooga Street 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. In fact, he would have probably sent a handkerchief or even went to him, personally, if possible, and laid hands on him and healed him instantly. back" but "send." The Name: Epaphroditus was a common name, a shortened form of it is Epaphrus, used in 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. 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. It is a compound word from 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). 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. the average person can relate to. In all the seven letters written after the close of the Book of Acts, Paul uses this word epignosisthe full knowledge. Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. It wasn't Paul's lack of compassion for his friend. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. 1:2) and Titus (Tit. So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes.