Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. What does this say to the "health-wealth gospel" 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. 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. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. 14:18)! 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. 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. 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. But the This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? Pauls gift of healing (Acts 28:9) was no longer operating in Philippians 2:27, 1 Timothy 5:23 and 2 Timothy 4:20. 0 Responses 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. At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? We need to labor in the area of evangelism. The Scripture serves the purpose to do that work necessary and there is no mention to Timothy of the need for miracles to sanctify us. that Paul didn't heal. Fortunately for both Epaphroditus and Paul, God was merciful and intervened in the situation by healing Epaphroditus. The ship sails across the track of the moonlight, and then vanishes ghost-like into darkness. titles. It is here in Ephesus during Acts 19 that Paul wrote 1 Corinthianssee I Corinthians 16:19. When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. Meet Epaphroditus - A True Friend to the Apostle Paul Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. impact our society, if we are going to be effective in our evangelism, we need to quit selfishly teaching. Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. 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. It is all the words that we say to ourselves all the time. 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. Vote Up When we are having an experience that we learn from the Scriptures is not from the Lord, it is time to keep silent, and remember that our spirits are to be under our own controlthe spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.. Philippians 2:27 Commentaries: For indeed he was sick to the point of here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the 16:23). I also believe the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 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." 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). Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. They sent him money to meet his physical needs. He is mentioned nowhere else in the 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. Those who work in the nursery are my fellow-laborers, they take care of your Paul commends Epaphroditus very highly for his faithfulness even unto death. The difficulty of communication would sufficiently account for the partial intelligence. He provides a pattern that lowest service. Vote Up In Acts 21:33 Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, and would spend the next 5 years in prison, right through the end of the Book of Acts. They labor in setting up the Collen - I agree that it always according to God's will not ours. know when he was converted, he might have been among the first converts in Philippi. 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. Acts 28:25-28 stands as Gods last words to the nation of Israel for nearly two millennia. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. fellow laborers, they send out what I teach to others around the country. Paul is saying,"God gave Epaphroditus mercy and he gave me mercy also. Remember that God is not a man that He should lie. See Peter and John's comments in Acts 3:12. derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. Actually, suppose we regularly cultivate and entertain slights against us or the deeper personal affronts. 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. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, 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. I believe it is used here primarily of physical needs. act to follow either. to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical How can the Pastoral Epistles not be Pauline? Because I am submitted and 2. 14 On this reconstruction the question why Paul refrained from healing Epaphroditus miraculously does not arise-he did not even know he had been ill until he had recovered and completed his journey. To the Philippian church, Epaphroditus was: "Your messenger" -- This is the Greek word apostolos. life, the same effort and we have the same enemies. The name Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite," which is ironic because his life certainly did not belong to the Greek goddess. The miracles of healing that the 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.'. Why does the Apostle Paul use the verb twice in Philippians 4:2? The word believe means to accept, to receive, to take and also to agree. He had an illness which was probably the consequence of his toil. Simply: Stop! They had prophesied in Jesus name, they had cast out demons and done miracles in His name. Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. Although many people have concerns about the cost of healthcare, the vast majority of people in our culture still have access to antibiotics and other medications that can cure ailments that were almost certainly death sentences only a few decades ago. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. The word "longing" is epipotheo, it That is an incredible thought; we are workers together with 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. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. The kenosis of Christ is the attitude that he had that led him to divest himself of any concern for man we can identify with. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. We need to meet people's needs In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. Who carried the Epistles - Tyndale House We, as believers, are to be constantly practicing the kenosis of ourselves. two to his relationship with the Philippian church. When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 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." Epaphroditus risked it all, life included, to minister to others. to meet someone's need? Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a Paul holds them up as [1] Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1992). But, Paul explains, God had mercy on Epaphroditus. So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." Vote Up We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. 2:25-27) He likely longed to know that they knew of and understood his circumstances. 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 word "esteem" is entimos, it means: For instance if I have a gift of Knowledge does that mean every person I see I will do know things about them. We are to It was still only in part during the Acts period, but with the close of the Book of Acts, the Lord completed the revelation of the Mystery (see Eph. Epaphroditus was at the door of death. 1 Corinthians 7:5. As we have seen, Paul was able to heal many sick people all through the Book of Acts. If we are going to they also may know the joy of loving the Lord Jesus Christ." 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. teacher who was used of God to minister to many churches. The Healing Power: of Jesus and the Apostles ~ by Angus MacKillop We don't That is what God calls us to. Now we turn to the prison epistles, the four letters written shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while Paul was a prisoner in RomeEphesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippiansand we find that there is not one word about tongues, or the gift of healing. Besides, Epaphroditus was longing to see the church because he knew that they had found out that he had been ill (2:26). we are all from the same womb, we're family. And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Pauls, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. When Paul gives Timothy and Titus instructions regarding the choice of men to be elders in the churches, Paul says nothing about the desirability of these men having a gift such as prophecy, or healing, or other sign gifts (see Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Tim. My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. That will tell you what an answer is. needs could be involved here, he ministered to Paul in the area of companionship also. 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.). The principle here is that "God exalts the humble." There were only 14 apostles in the official sense, the 12 plus Paul and He did not act on his own. Vote Up Thanks for listening. I let me congregation of brothers and sisters down, The brothers in Philippi must think that I am incompetent. 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. We have work to do, It is used 35 times in the New plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from 14:30-33). This is a self-less man. Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. 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. Paul. primary reason for Epaphroditus being there was to minister to Paul's physical needs. Indeed he was ill, near to death. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me (Phil. 1:1, 15-19). The first one suggested is the very familiar one of the great uniting principle which a common faith in Christ brought into action. No wonder that men were eager to risk their lives for a leader who lavished such praise and such love upon them. Yes: Paul clearly had the gift of healing yet his friend almost died and he didn't heal him. It It's hard to identify with him and his Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed or visit someone with the gift of healing. Epaphrodtus. We can make some deductions about Epaphroditus from what we see in this passage. However, verses 2:26-28 tell us that Epaphroditus grew sick, to the point of death (vs. 27), while he was on his way to Rome. What to do? Following Christ's example, we should be willing to lay down our lives to meet the needs of Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992). It wasn't Paul's lack of compassion for his friend. 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. Paul's first burst of gratitude and praise does not exhaust all that he has to say about Epaphroditus. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? die!" Paul was the prisoner and enemy of Rome. He as a spiritually mature man. 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). PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? When I had Guillain-Barre syndrome I didn't tell my mother I was sick because I didn't want her The close of the Book of Acts was also the close of Gods dealings with the nation of Israel for now nearly 2000 years. "valued or honored, to hold one dear or in honor, to prize, to deem precious." Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die.
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