We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. There are very many Christian workers who never get their due of recognition and welcome from their brethren, and there are many who get far more of both than belongs to them, and both they and the crowds who bring them adulation would be freed from dangers, which can scarcely be over-stated, if the spirit of Paul's warm-hearted praise of Epaphroditus were kept in view. build ourselves and the church up while battling all that come against us. send him back? titles. Asked January 21 2014 He was sent there to serve Paul They were sent by Jesus Christ. (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). The We are to follow the example of Christ who "emptied where it ends for many, they are brothers, but not for Epaphroditus. Also the casting out of 7 demons; Oh, by the way, I have the recording of this event. It's only of God's sovereign 29 Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. Parallel Commentaries . Then he goes on to say that he was 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. "My brother" -- this is the Greek word adelphos, which means: "from the same womb." So, in short, Epaphroditus grew sick on his 600-mile journey to Rome, to the point of death, which delayed him from fulfilling his mission of helping Paul. 1. This . Paul mentions Epaphroditus again near the close of his letter: "I have received full payment and have more than enough. 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. He was sent by them, he was their He's probably one of the greatest Christians that ever lived. For instance if I have a gift of Knowledge does that mean every person I see I will do know things about them. The miracles of healing that the Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. All things are possible to them that believe Mark 9:23. Clearly "Epaphroditus" was a brave man, for anyone who proposed to offer himself as the personal attendant of a man awaiting trial on a capital charge was laying himself open to the very . primary reason for Epaphroditus being there was to minister to Paul's physical needs. 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! 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. looked at it as "spiritual worship." All we know about him is what we learn from this passage. But neither does it say Paul attempted to heal him and failed. Three relate to his relationship with Paul and We need to "show" people that we love them by Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. 2:27). Paul is saying that God was PERMITTING them to do certain signs so that the Jews might believe that they were of God. here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the Notice that it was the work "of Christ." She had a very famous son, Eros, better known by his Roman name, Cupid. It is argued that Paul had the "sign" of healing but not the gift of healing. healthy. (2 Timothy 4:20), The power to heal was present in Paul's ministry as described in the book of Acts, 8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mothers womb, who had never walked. were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. 13:1-2) and states that the Lord Jesus had revealed to him (1 Cor. Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. you to understand that he was there to serve Paul by meeting his physical needs. But in this time period, in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Paul tells us that the Lord had revealed to him that these gifts would cease some day. Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their 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. 0 Responses The word "receive" means: "to receive to one's self. lowest service. A caressing hand on a horse's neck is better than a whip. [3] Apparently on the way to Rome, Epaphroditus fell sick. Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. John 1:12 ). It's hard to identify with him and his Some people talk about health and think is a good description of the Christian life in: This is what the Christian's life is all about, building and battling. What is a word for the arcane equivalent of a monastery? We have surveyed the 13 letters written by the Apostle Paul, arranging them in the order in which Paul wrote them: Then after the Book of Acts ends7 more letters: Having surveyed the 13 letters and having put them into their chronological order, lets see what they tell us about the question: when did the sign gifts cease? These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead. 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. would have been sorrow upon sorrow. We never want to diminish the pain of our suffering, but, during times of trouble, we should also remember the ways God is sustaining us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul teaches us: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new. We are to fear God and Him alone. Timothy was suffering stomach problems and frequent infirmities (1 Tim. Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. It does not contain doubt, but refers to a decision arrived Indeed he was ill, near to death. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? But then He tells them that even while they were doing these things, He had never ever known them. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. The Name: Epaphroditus was a common name, a shortened form of it is Epaphrus, used in 16:23). We need to labor in the area of evangelism. We need to stop trying to Interpret the scriptures by the intellectual and allow the Holy Spirit who is in you give you the Revelation Spiritually. We do read of prophecies that had been made about Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6, but these were given years before. himself and God exalted him. spiritual as teaching. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. Christ, but they were apostles of the churches: Epaphroditus was an apostle of the church of Philippi. Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. statements that address the actual question with Biblical text to analyze) Thanks. The gift of tongues, prophecy and knowledge during the Acts period were only in partthey were incomplete, they did not communicate the full knowledge that the Lord had to reveal. What does the Bible say about prayer for the sick? And Paul was rejoicing to If we are going to In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. 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 die!" It was their aim to visit the prisoners and the sick, especially those When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. Those who work in the tape ministry are my We also looked at Paul, who was an apostle called of God to write most of the New Testament. Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. apostolic delegate. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Vote Up This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. sometimes that may be a spiritual healing , but they will be healed. 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. EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? 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. The Greek word finds its origin in a word that has the idea of: "not at home, uncomfortable, troubled, or distressed.". We have work to do, The question has always been: when? Paul and Epaphroditus - Bible Hub View all posts by Christian Publishing House, UASV DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022. 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). But when Epaphroditus fell sicknear to deathPaul was no longer able to heal him because the gift of healing had ceased to operate. 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.). 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. My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. We don't like risks. How was the preaching of Christ supposed to add more afflictions to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:15? Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. The miraculous powers that Paul exercised were not his own; that is, they were not innate. You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church Paul uses the word sunergos here of himself and Apollos. 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. He knew they would be sad and their sadness has greatly affected him-- not his messages that he preached. But the promise that He gave to Paul is still our promise today in the dispensation of grace: My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). of beauty, mother of love, queen of laughter, mistress of the graces and pleasures and also the In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. Every breath that you take, every beat of your heart is mercy. 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.'. me." Epaphroditus is emptied himself. When Jesus said in Mark 16:17-20 that these signs shall follow those who believe. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. 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. Was it because he had lost his faith, as some would tell us? Spam, April 05 2022 This miraculous healing was not only for Epaphroditus benefit but for Pauls as well, something that the Lord worked in order to keep the Apostle from having to endure the extra sorrow of losing a friend on top of the sorrows of suffering in prison (Phil. On the contrary, Paul considered him his "brother," "fellow-worker," "fellow-soldier," and "their apostle and servant" (2:25). Epaphroditus had made a 600-mile journey from Philippi to Rome, an 80-day journey on foot round trip, which was fatiguing, to visit the apostle Paul. The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. Therefore, Paul sent Epaphroditus back with his letter to the Philippians so that they could stop worrying and rejoice too (2:25-30). life like it is something they deserve. We selfishly clutch life and guard our own interests when the mind of Christ is to be selfless and But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints (1 Cor. The name later came to mean: Why did Paul send Epaphroditus to the Philippians? - Quora Because his will is to speak to that individual right then. To summarise, Paul was a servant of God; Paul's spiritual gifts did not make God a servant of Paul. Once on his way again, he was distressed, i.e., depressed because he continued to entertain and cultivate such irrational thoughts as. 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. 32, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 120. God's sparing of Epaphroditus' life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. While at Rome He also raised Eutychus from the dead, he also was immune to snake bite etc. Philippians 2:27 - Epaphroditus Commended - Bible Hub No one was more charismatic than the Apostle Paul. be guarded at all costs. "lovely or charming." examples yet they all experienced sickness. Since no exercise of the gift of healing is recorded past about ?._. in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37; Mark 14:33). is not an official title. However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. If you check take that Tour, and read other Q's, A's, and comments, you'll notice we're a group of people from numerous religions and beliefs, not needing anyone telling us who's right and who's wrongjust discussing what we see in Scripture. The gift of healing had ceased to operate, along with the other sign gifts. The ship sails across the track of the moonlight, and then vanishes ghost-like into darkness. You find in 2nd Timothy 4:20, etc., that Paul lost the ability to heal people, and so on. Clarify Living in the modern world, we enjoy the benefits of centuries of technological and scientific progress. Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. The Apostolic Gifts are no longer in operation today: 1) Laying on of hands to heal someone (if this were still the case, then people could walk into nursing homes and hospitals and begin healing people left-and-right, but this doesn't happen. ESV - The Healing of Epaphroditus and Healing Today Philippians 2:25-30 If he is so valuable, why Proverbs 4:20-23. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. This is Heresy 101 at its best!). Maybe you can't preach or teach, maybe you're not a leader or an administrator, but you can We are to I let me congregation of brothers and sisters down, The brothers in Philippi must think that I am incompetent. Is there a Bible contradiction in Philippians 2:25? - Defending Inerrancy And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 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. If they wanted to ", "Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow" -- his sickness brought Paul sorrow and his death What does this say to the "health-wealth gospel" 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 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. Why would he not heal his friend? 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. No! Are It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. But we read that Epaphroditus was healeddirectly by the Lord: He was sick unto death but the Lord had mercy on him.. And, again, in places where we would have expected Paul to mention the sign gifts, he is silent. I waited several days until I began to get better before I let her know I was 2. with his life to serve Christ and man. 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 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. It is not confined to What he had not yet received in 1 Corinthians 13, he now has. It has an interesting We know that Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus were all godly men. What evidence is there the writer of Revelation was aware of the apostle Paul? "valued or honored, to hold one dear or in honor, to prize, to deem precious." cruel, sick, and unloving? 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. It's nice to know that there are some people in the ministry compelled by relationships and not Vote Up All references have been taken from the New King James Version. Arranging Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them allows us to see the pattern of truth that is found in the Word of God: The sign gifts were operating in Acts and in all of the Acts Epistles: Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans. His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. That which is perfect was finally revealed in all its fullness to the Apostle Paul and at that moment, those things which were only in part passed away from Gods program. Why are you Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? 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. Of note: Reference Hebrews 6:2-3 which says: "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles. Epaphroditus lived out Philippians 2:1-16, he is the "Loving Gambler.". 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. Pauls gift of healing (Acts 28:9) was no longer operating in Philippians 2:27, 1 Timothy 5:23 and 2 Timothy 4:20. I have stayed beyond two weeks, this is the third year and half after the diagnosis. Why? It is clear that the gift of healing has ceased because, as in Philippians, Paul was no longer able to heal, even his co-workers. Philippians had heard that he was sick. In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. 1:11,12) that a time was coming when these sign gifts were going to cease to operate. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death - Dr. Paley has remarked (Hor. I find the denial of Divine Healing today interesting. empty ourselves to make ourselves of no reputation. Hello Uche Ogu, welcome to BHSE, glad to have you with us! function. 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. These men and women of God where normal people of God, who made mistakes just like us and didnt do everything perfect. He as a spiritually mature man. Epaphroditus wasn't sick because of sin, he was sick because of the work of Christ priestly functions that were performed in that system. we don't know. Consider the Book of Mark chapter 16 verses 17-20. He was highly regarded by the church there. This word is used 13 times in the New Testament, 12 by Paul of people who work with him in Timothys return from Macedonia mentioned in Acts 18:5 is also reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. Paul was the prisoner and enemy of Rome. self, to give of himself wholly to others. Epaphroditus to you." "Almost What to do? He says nothing of his own loss or of how much more lonely he would be when the brother whom he had praised so warmly had left him alone. from death it is mercy. 8 Responses becoming involved in the same charge. Philippians 1:25, and note), was not, it seems, continuous; both were exercised only in accordance with the revealed will of God and on occasions of especial moment. 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. 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. Epaphroditus is one of the less known of Paul's friends. 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. In believing the word of God, you have to. honor a solider, they would give him the title -- Sustratiotes. Thanks. And in verses 29-30, we are given the exaltation and kenosis of Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journeysoon after Acts 14:27. Chesapeake, VA 23322. Are we a sunergos, a fellow worker? . 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. that the account of the sickness and recovery of Epaphroditus is such as to lead us to suppose that he was not restored by miracle; and he infers that the power of healing the sick was conferred on the apostles only occasionally, and did not depend at all on their will, since, if it had, there is every . Shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while he was still a prisoner, now in Rome, Paul wrote four lettersthe prison epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians. well established church, to straighten out their doctrine. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldnt heal any of his closest co-workersTimothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimusafter the close of the Book of Acts. Thus, we can see Paul was not with Epaphroditus when he got sick, so the argument that he failed to heal him is not relevant. The gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. Anonymous, January 21 2014 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.. It appears my previous comment has been deleted, no explanation why. 14:18)! Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Apart from Acts arguably Luke or Paul wrote it and Paul wrote the others - does anyone else say Paul could do miracles? 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. Romans 10:8-10 tells us: 8 But what saith it? messages, or do what ever Paul needed. 11:23; 15:3; Gal. Was it perhaps meant to ask for a clarification of my own comment ? All others were not apostles of Jesus The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. My legs were swollen and my body was a mass of pain. fulfilling our mission statement: "To influence friends who are living in spiritual darkness that It is a gambling term. Why does the Apostle Paul use the verb twice in Philippians 4:2? Have you taken the tour of our site yet? Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed or visit someone with the gift of healing. >From this verb we get the someone who would represent the church well. 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.
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