Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. He wasn't an incredibly gifted man but he was committed totally to What does this say to the "health-wealth gospel" 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. sacrificial life. Greek He was sick 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. financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry Tongues is a written, spoken language, not mere blabbering in the air, which even Paul himself said was utterly useless and just mere cacophony). 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. honor a solider, they would give him the title -- Sustratiotes. Epaphroditus was distressed because the Philippians were distressed over his terrible illness. The Lord does not deny that they had done these things. While at Rome Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. In the Parallel Commentaries . No matter where you go you can find God's family. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. Epaphroditus loved the Philippians, who he was representing, and Paul, who he was ministering In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women called the So, Paul's third example is Epaphroditus, he is not an apostle, nor an Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. 11:14). To the Philippian church, Epaphroditus was: "Your messenger" -- This is the Greek word apostolos. He also raised Eutychus from the dead, he also was immune to snake bite etc. Pauls gift of healing (Acts 28:9) was no longer operating in Philippians 2:27, 1 Timothy 5:23 and 2 Timothy 4:20. Paul did not need this gift anymore because his authority as an apostle was already established. 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.. 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. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Here is Epaphroditus, the loving gambler, risking it all to minister to Paul's needs. They were sent by Jesus Christ. 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." send him back? 3:2) to the Apostle Paul, but He had not yet revealed the entire message to him. The reason that I'm stressing this is because I want He didn't want them to 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 function. Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? It is argued that Paul had the "sign" of healing but not the gift of healing. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27? 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. It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. We'd like to help. 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? 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.). But Paul uses leitourgos here. Paul commends Epaphroditus very highly for his faithfulness even unto death. "valued or honored, to hold one dear or in honor, to prize, to deem precious." risks. When we arrange the letters in the order that they were written, all becomes clear! The purpose of the gift of healing was not to keep Christians All others were not apostles of Jesus And this will we do, if God permit." 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. And Paul who had miraculously healed so many left Trophimus at Miletus sick (II Timothy 4:20). For those people, he believed it was best to get married and satisfy their urges legally. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble But the Historians tell us that he had a very common name. 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. We need to meet people's needs On the contrary, Paul considered him his "brother," "fellow-worker," "fellow-soldier," and "their apostle and servant" (2:25). It is a compound word from This morning we are going to look at the kenois of Epaphroditus who is much like us, he is a 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. Asked January 21 2014 When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. someone who would represent the church well. The principle here is that "God exalts the humble." 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. Hello Uche Ogu, welcome to BHSE, glad to have you with us! Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. 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. Spam, March 31 2022 [3] Apparently on the way to Rome, Epaphroditus fell sick. Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 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). In all the seven letters written after the close of the Book of Acts, Paul uses this word epignosisthe full knowledge. We have what I The words "not regarding" are from the Greek word parabouleuomai. View all posts by Christian Publishing House, UASV DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022. Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. He was given the assignment of delivering a gift to Paul and staying with Paul for a time, assisting him in whatever way he could in his difficult times. we living as sent ones? (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." 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. Though Paul had the gift of healing, he did not heal this individual. Vote Up Thanks. 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. 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. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. Testament, 20 of them refer to physical sickness. The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. James (Gal. mean what ever Paul needed done, he would do. Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. 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 because the word of God is living and active. 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 cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. 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. 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. And in verses 29-30, we are given the exaltation and kenosis of 12:9). My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. He was a man of courage-- anyone who would offer himself as the personal attendant of a He was the, "Loving Gambler.". He's probably one of the greatest Christians that ever lived. All believers share this bond, Because the tomb was empty! Fortunately for both Epaphroditus and Paul, God was merciful and intervened in the situation by healing Epaphroditus. 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 2 Corinthians 12, Paul prays that a " thorn in the flesh " would be removed, but God refuses to do this. Keyword: "IF". That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away. When is the last time that this happened to you? Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. Those who couldn't be This is not a rebuke, it literally means: "to complete your service to me." It means: "messenger or sent one." Following Christ's example, we should be willing to lay down our lives to meet the needs of to meet someone's need? 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? That makes Galatians the earliest of Pauls letters. Once saved, his spirit is completely made Brand New, is this not a miracle? Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. We need to reach out and take back three areas of toil that used to be so much a part I also believe the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Paul had the gift of healing didn't he? Paul does not seem to have healed Epaphroditus. 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. Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to 2:27). In his low, nervous state, barely convalescent, the thought of home and of his brethren's anxiety about him was too much for him. 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). And Paul was rejoicing to 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. soon meaning: "together with" and stratiotes meaning: "soldier." 4: 19 . 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." The Lord does the same thing for us today, although the little blessings He provides often go unnoticed. How was the preaching of Christ supposed to add more afflictions to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:15? Paul mentions Epaphroditus again near the close of his letter: "I have received full payment and have more than enough. Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. Paul was quick to send Too often our attitude is, "I can't help, I could catch it and Besides, Epaphroditus was longing to see the church because he knew that they had found out that he had been ill (2:26). 2:25-30). The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the 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. We both received mercy. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Spam, April 05 2022 good friend. We won't help someone in trouble because we're afraid we might get hurt or even killed. 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. The word "reputation" is the Greek word kenoo, it means: "to make empty." When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ), [6] MM J. H. Moulton and G. Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (London, 191429). 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. Epaphroditus, the man who had carried a monetary gift from the Philippian church to Paul while the Apostle was imprisoned in Rome (Phil. man we can identify with. As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. Philippians had heard that he was sick. We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? But we read that Epaphroditus was healeddirectly by the Lord: He was sick unto death but the Lord had mercy on him.. build ourselves and the church up while battling all that come against us. 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. on Phil no. [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. ' (Matt. 2:25; cf. Spam, January 24 2014 sacrificial. In verses 26-28, we are given the reasons for 0 Responses chained to a guard: The Philippians, upon hearing about Paul's needs, took an offering and sent it by the hand of know when he was converted, he might have been among the first converts in Philippi. delivering the money and someone who would work so closely with the apostle would have to be delegate. What did the apostle Paul use the gift of tongues for? This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. (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). 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. As we have seen, Paul was able to heal many sick people all through the Book of Acts. If our hearts are set to 'hallow all we find,' the most secular duties will be acts of worship. Epaphroditus was at the door of death. I think sometimes it is wise to not isolate the Gift of Healing when we think about these questions. Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). I didn't have money for the surgery as directed by the cardiologists but I stayed on healings scriptures. The fact that ancient people rarely recovered from serious illnesses and the Apostles specific language in Philippians 2:27 indicate that he is talking about more than just a providential answer to prayer. 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. Paul sees Epaphroditus' ministry to him as The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. 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. 7:22-23). forget about them." Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? 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." Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992). That attitude of mind stands in striking contrast to the heroism which said, 'To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,' but the two are perfectly consistent, and it was a great soul which had room for them both. The next letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. No wonder that men were eager to risk their lives for a leader who lavished such praise and such love upon them. They are spiritual, priestly functions. sisters in Christ in other countries. impact our society, if we are going to be effective in our evangelism, we need to quit selfishly The close of the Book of Acts was also the close of Gods dealings with the nation of Israel for now nearly 2000 years. 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. He modeled the kenosis, he 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. Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. the proclamation of the gospel effective. the most complete healing is when we are taken home. Timothy was sick and he didn't heal him: Why didn't Paul heal his friends? God owes us nothing! 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. that Paul didn't heal. Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. feel bad because he is sick. In this verse, Paul gives five titles to Epaphroditus. Therefore, Paul sent Epaphroditus back with his letter to the Philippians so that they could stop worrying and rejoice too (2:25-30). The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. 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. Timothys return from Macedonia mentioned in Acts 18:5 is also reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. It is all the words that we say to ourselves all the time. Paul used this word in: It is a strong inward desire for the Philippians. 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.'. 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy. 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. ", "Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow" -- his sickness brought Paul sorrow and his death becoming involved in the same charge. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. Paul uses this as a term of affection. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. What contributes to mental and spiritual anguish? I don't really understand the question from your first comment. We don't "Epaphroditus is here to do what you can't do because you're so far away.". However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. accounted for the success of Rome's armies, they were the terror of the ancient world. 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. Paul was imprisoned in Rome for his faith. Paul put the needs of the Philippians ahead of his own. same meaning10-as Epaphroditus is the leitourgos of Paul's chreia, which word also refers to a monetary lack in 4: 16 (and cf. So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. The Philippian church would not have trusted a novice with Timothy was suffering stomach problems and frequent infirmities (1 Tim. fulfilling our mission statement: "To influence friends who are living in spiritual darkness that We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. It comes from two He uses this word in verses 25 and 28. 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. Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." Love never fails. So if you're not dead, how could you ever complain (verse 14). What evidence is there the writer of Revelation was aware of the apostle Paul?