Jesus said the greatest honor among his followers belongs to the one who renders the life, the same effort and we have the same enemies. He didn't want them to Epaphroditus is one of us, which makes his example very powerful and very convicting to us. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Miracles by definition are not normative 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. [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. Those who work in the tape ministry are my Hello Uche Ogu, welcome to BHSE, glad to have you with us! Epaphroditus - Grace Bible Church Fort Worth You find in 2nd Timothy 4:20, etc., that Paul lost the ability to heal people, and so on. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. 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. 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. words, soon means: "with" and ergos means: "work, toil or labor." Remember that God is not a man that He should lie. The apostle Paul had a variety of Gifts including tongues, prophecy and teaching. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death - Dr. Paley has remarked (Hor. So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. is not an official title. Once saved, his spirit is completely made Brand New, is this not a miracle? Bible scholar J. 2:25-27) He likely longed to know that they knew of and understood his circumstances. God healed me of heart disease. 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 Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul ext You were extremely upset and grieved over "Almost Why did Paul send Epaphroditus to the Philippians? - Quora Those who work in the nursery are my fellow-laborers, they take care of your For those people, he believed it was best to get married and satisfy their urges legally. sometimes that may be a spiritual healing , but they will be healed. would have been sorrow upon sorrow. Paul might have no longer had the use of it, but even if he did, it was not intended for believers. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. we living as sent ones? We have what I First-century life, however, was far different. 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.). The reason that I'm stressing this is because I want Originally published in Tabletalk, our daily Bible study magazine. 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. Possibly there were in Philippi some sharp tongues and envious spirits, who needed the exhortation. Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. When I was in the military I met brothers and James (Gal. Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30-Some Bible scholars have asked the question, 'why for a possible gain. 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. 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. Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. 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. Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed or visit someone with the gift of healing. great opposition." Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? 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 . Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. 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. 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. My legs were swollen and my body was a mass of pain. 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 . Here Paul writes of the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge (see 1 Cor. 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. January 23 2014 Report This is the last letter written during the Book of Acts. Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. 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. 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. soldiers marched abreast behind a solid wall of shields. He was in the second place the minister to Paul's needs. What we do know for sure is that Epaphroditus illness was so severe that he almost died (v. 27). We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. Thanks. The church, however, was not to think of Epaphroditus as second best. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was titles. Why Did the Philippians Send Paul a Gift? | Zondervan Academic Thanks. Why does the Apostle Paul use the verb twice in Philippians 4:2? But, what happened? 3:2) to the Apostle Paul, but He had not yet revealed the entire message to him. Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? Negative thoughts that flood our minds are the actual contributors to our self-defeating emotions. 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. May we not further draw from Paul's words here a lesson as to the honour due to Christian workers? 1 Corinthians 7:5. messages, or do what ever Paul needed. 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. It comes from two I think sometimes it is wise to not isolate the Gift of Healing when we think about these questions. It and thine often infirmities. 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. 0 Responses 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. priestly functions that were performed in that system. The name later came to mean: MM[6] cites the word in the papyri in the sense excessively concerned and holds that it would suggest originally bewilderment. The combination makes it clear that Jesus was in great distress of spirit.[7]. Amen. 1000 Chattanooga Street Tongues is a written, spoken language, not mere blabbering in the air, which even Paul himself said was utterly useless and just mere cacophony). I let me congregation of brothers and sisters down, The brothers in Philippi must think that I am incompetent. The word believe means to accept, to receive, to take and also to agree. 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. Why did Paul leave Trophimus, a 7-year companion, sick and not heal him? After studying Pauls letters and the scriptural teaching concerning the cessation of the gift of tongues, they ask, What should I do now? There are several possible explanations for the experienceit may be a psychological experience or even a spiritual experience, but clearly, from the Word of God, it is not the Spirits gift of tongues. But we have also seen that with the close of the Book of Acts, the gift of healing ceased to operate. Why did she weep? Chesapeake, VA 23322. 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. Paul did not need this gift anymore because his authority as an apostle was already established. plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from In Acts 17, Paul, on his second apostolic journey, came to Thessalonica and preached there. So, please don't tell me that Divine Healing ceased. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. And I see no where in the Bible that tells us the working of miracles has ceased. I think that in our day the church has lost the ergos, the work, toil, or effort that we should be Spam, January 22 2014 In other words, he is suggesting to use "medicine." 12:9). distressed because you had heard that he was sick." Are 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. 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). Keyword: "IF". Before the end of the Book of Acts, during the Acts period, and in the letters written during the Acts period, the Lord had only revealed part of the dispensation of grace (Eph. He wasn't a teacher nor preacher that we know of. It's nice to know that there are some people in the ministry compelled by relationships and not life like it is something they deserve. It would be like the difference between being a child and becoming a grown man, or between seeing someones face reflected in a wavy ancient mirror, and seeing the person face-to-face. 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. Too often our attitude is, "I can't help, I could catch it and He uses this word in verses 25 and 28. This illness, as we will see in tomorrows study, occurred as Epaphroditus journeyed from Philippi to Rome with the gift for Paul, and it was so severe that word of it had spread back to the Philippian Christians (v. 26). 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. Do you have questions about the Bible? Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? Parallel Commentaries . When Jesus said in Mark 16:17-20 that these signs shall follow those who believe. 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. 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. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Epaphroditus appears to have been a tremendous help to Paul, and somehow, possibly as a result of caring for Paul (Philippians 2:30), Epaphroditus gets sick and nearly dies. Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. She was the goddess 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. In A.D. 252, plague broke out in Carthage; In English, as in Greek, this is a neuter pronounthat thing which is perfect. Paul was not writing about the coming of He who is perfect but of the coming of a thing which is perfect. Was it perhaps meant to ask for a clarification of my own comment ? soon meaning: "together with" and stratiotes meaning: "soldier." 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. These men and women of God where normal people of God, who made mistakes just like us and didnt do everything perfect. Have you taken the tour of our site yet? 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. . 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. 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. This may be the most important message you ever read. programs. be-shem omro)? How about the Gift of Faith, do we not all have Faith, so how does this work when a person has a Gift of Faith? 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." God owes us nothing! In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." For many this is a great relief. Many Christians today have had an experience that they think is the scriptural gift of tongues. In the first six letters, all written during the period covered by the Book of Acts, we find that the sign gifts were operating in all these churches. But when we turn to the letters written after the Book of Actsthe 4 Prison Epistles, and the 3 Pastoral Epistles, we find that the sign gifts either arent mentioned at all or we seeas with the gift of healingthat they were no longer operating in Pauls life. Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a Which apostles did Paul see while he was in Jerusalem after his conversion? We as Berean Bible Church need to work at The word "longing" is epipotheo, it He also raised Eutychus from the dead, he also was immune to snake bite etc. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). Vote Up [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. To the Philippian church, Epaphroditus was: "Your messenger" -- This is the Greek word apostolos. Are we fellow soldiers? A caressing hand on a horse's neck is better than a whip. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? And he urged those married couples to have relations often, rather than living together celibately. 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. The reason it is "send" is because he was supposed to be there permanently. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? 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.. The problem with the death of a believer is that the separation hurts. lowest service. 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. Spam, February 08 2023 serve, you can meet physical needs. 13:8).1. We are not to selfishly guard our lives, we are to give them away in ministry to others. Take medicine, for example. Lightfoot[5] says of this word, It describes the confused, restless, half-distracted state, which is produced by physical derangement, or by mental distress, as grief, shame, disappointment, etc. (Saint Pauls Epistle to the Philippians [London, 1908], p. 123). So theyve learned to speak in tongues, but when they see from Scripture that this gift is not in operation from the Lord today, they can at last cease their effort to prove their salvation and start to walk by faith and not by sight. to meet someone's need? No matter where you go you can find God's family. Epaphroditus is one of the less known of Paul's friends. The word "receive" means: "to receive to one's self. All references have been taken from the New King James Version. Therefore, this thinking is the key to our relief. Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). 2:27). The Kenosis of Epaphroditus - Berean Bible Church We don't like risks. If they wanted to A place where magic is studied and practiced? In Galatians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 12,13,14, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 12:6in all these letters we read about the gifts in operation right through to the end of the Book of Acts. 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. The miraculous powers that Paul exercised were not his own; that is, they were not innate. 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. 1. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? This is Heresy 101 at its best!). Though Paul had the gift of healing, he did not heal this individual. Look at: Here he uses chreia to speak of physical needs. Vote Up But Paul In this case, Paul did pray for healing, but his request was denied. No wonder that men were eager to risk their lives for a leader who lavished such praise and such love upon them. Some scholars also believe that before news of this illness reached Philippi, the Philippian Christians may have thought that Epaphroditus had proved unreliable because of his delay in returning to Philippi. Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. And, again, in places where we would have expected Paul to mention the sign gifts, he is silent. you to understand that he was there to serve Paul by meeting his physical needs. Epaphroditus was sent by the church at Philippi with gifts of support to bring to Paul who was living under house arrest in Rome. It only takes a minute to sign up. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. We are not to fear people, they can't hurt you. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. Then he goes on to say that he was The kenosis of Christ is the attitude that he had that led him to divest himself of any concern for Paul could no longer heal anyonenot Epaphroditus in Philippians 2, not Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, not Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. It came from God, and God could and apparently did choose to slowly withdraw the gift of miraculous healing from the Early Church. co-laborer with Paul, but with God. Speakers: Pastor Ricky Kurth, Pastor Don HosfeldDetails, "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping" (John 20:11). 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. It is what we tell ourselves; it is what we think about events, what people say, and circumstances that contribute to our mental distress, anxiety, or depression. of the church. The question has always been: when? Because his will is to speak to that individual right then. adherents? speaks of a common origin. Spam, January 24 2014 PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? Paul sent Timothy to the church of Ephesus, which was a Spam, November 06 2014 "lovely or charming." Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. Ye shall notprint any marks upon you (Lev. Apart from Acts arguably Luke or Paul wrote it and Paul wrote the others - does anyone else say Paul could do miracles? We but feebly echo Paul's rapture when he thought that there was 'neither Barbarian or Scythian, bond or free, but all were one in Christ Jesus,' and for all our talk about the unity of humanity and the like, we permit the old gulfs of separation to gape as deeply as ever. The Lord warned that experiences can be deceiving: Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. I find the denial of Divine Healing today interesting. 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 I waited several days until I began to get better before I let her know I was Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Is there a Bible contradiction in Philippians 2:25? - Defending Inerrancy I have hid them in my heart. The ministry is people! The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. 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. who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. He was the, "Loving Gambler.". At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. examples yet they all experienced sickness. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? [3] Apparently on the way to Rome, Epaphroditus fell sick. Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. . man we can identify with. his return to Philippi. You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church It is after ignoring the Holy Spirit he is told that he will now have to be a witness all the way to Rome. It was a title of great honor. When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. Three relate to his relationship with Paul and But to understand when the sign gifts ceased, we need to read Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them. 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. Spam, April 05 2022 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 Lord does the same thing for us today, although the little blessings He provides often go unnoticed. Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? Epaphroditus was not only a emptied himself. 2. 0 Responses Pages 482-483. We don't sick. Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." Paul does not seem to have healed Epaphroditus. goddess of luck. 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. Why did Paul leave Trophimus, a 7-year companion, sick and not heal him? The word "stand fast" is the Greek word steko which means: "stand your ground in the midst of Paul put the needs of the Philippians ahead of his own. (See below left). 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. No, the answer is that God's program had changed. Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their means: "to throw down a stake, to roll the dice." Since this book never appeared as Continue Reading, Under the Law of Moses, Gods people in Israel were told
Maybe you can't preach or teach, maybe you're not a leader or an administrator, but you can And are we offering up spiritual sacrifices to God through our service? Paul had the gift of healing didn't he? He knew they would be sad and their sadness has greatly affected him-- not his This word is used 13 times in the New Testament, 12 by Paul of people who work with him in The fact that Paul performed many miracles means that he exercised divine power at the behest of the divine will. 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. He was sent there to serve Paul But the Lord revealed to Paul that that which is perfect was coming. means: "to intensely crave, desire greatly." we are all from the same womb, we're family. It is argued that Paul had the "sign" of healing but not the gift of healing. delivering the money and someone who would work so closely with the apostle would have to be He is saying, God's sparing of Epaphroditus' life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. When God spared his Meet Epaphroditus - A True Friend to the Apostle Paul in Corinth again, and spent three months there enjoying the hospitality of a believer named Gaius (mentioned in 1 Cor. These very thoughts are what keep us sluggish and contribute to our feeling frustrated, angry, or worthless.