others. Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. ", "Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow" -- his sickness brought Paul sorrow and his death For instance if I have a gift of Knowledge does that mean every person I see I will do know things about them. Paul (Acts 20:9-10) In fact, on one occasion, Paul had healed all of the sick people, even those with diseases, on Malta, an island in the Mediterranean. In that he had heard about the seeds of division that had been planted in the church at Philippi. Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. 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.. 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. All through the Book of Acts we read of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, etc.for example, tongues and prophecy in Acts 19:6, the gift of prophecy in Acts 21:10-14, the gift of healing in Acts 19:11-12 and 28:8,9, etc. 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. the average person can relate to. He had the heart of a servant-- he was most likely a deacon. from death it is mercy. sadness. You were extremely upset and grieved over As Paul sends a letter to the church in Philippi he acknowledges Epaphroditus's close connection with himself, as "my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier" (Philippians 2:25). fulfilling our mission statement: "To influence friends who are living in spiritual darkness that The close of the Book of Acts was also the close of Gods dealings with the nation of Israel for now nearly 2000 years. This is Hardly. The problem with the death of a believer is that the separation hurts. What to do? We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? two to his relationship with the Philippian church. The order of these first six books is: In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond. Epaphroditus was also a common noun. 1000 Chattanooga Street We need to know and be Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. for a possible gain. 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. All things are possible to them that believe Mark 9:23. Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? Many Christians today have had an experience that they think is the scriptural gift of tongues. 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 What is a word for the arcane equivalent of a monastery? Why? Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. What year did Ezra leave Babylon and arrive in Jerusalem? Edward D. Andrews wrote. 1. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Epaphroditus lived out Philippians 2:1-16, he is the "Loving Gambler.". honor a solider, they would give him the title -- Sustratiotes. How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? 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. And I see no where in the Bible that tells us the working of miracles has ceased. Have you ever watched 0 Responses Even where we might have expected Paul to write of tongues in the passage about being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:17, he has nothing to say about tongues. At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul. It means: "messenger or sent one." And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Paul's, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. apostolic delegate. 32, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 120. Epaphrodtus. back" but "send." Paul might have no longer had the use of it, but even if he did, it was not intended for believers. Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. needs could be involved here, he ministered to Paul in the area of companionship also. 0 Responses Of all the inhabitants of Philippi at that time we know the names of but three, Euodias, Syntiche, and Epaphroditus, and we owe them all to Paul. This time he anticipates being beheaded for the Lord and writes the last letter, Second Timothy. One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. 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. sickness-- but their concern. Epaphroditus. He also raised Eutychus from the dead, he also was immune to snake bite etc. No one was more charismatic than the Apostle Paul. Not only did they intend for him to be the bearer of their gift; they also intended for him to stay in Rome and be Paul's personal servant and attendant. Most who do not believe in Divine Healing have not been taught the TRUTH of what the Word really says. The terms in which the work of Epaphroditus is spoken of by Paul are very significant. Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church This is not a rebuke, it literally means: "to complete your service to me." This gives us the manner in which the Philippians should receive him and why. 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. 61 ( Acts 28:8 ), it may be that the special apostolic gift of healing (cf. the heathen threw out the bodies of their dead and fled in terror. Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. means: "to abase, naturalize, to make of none effect, of no reputation." The word of God is very clear on every subject. In Gaiuss home, in Corinth, Paul wrote the letter to the Romans (see Rom. sisters in Christ in other countries. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). words, soon means: "with" and ergos means: "work, toil or labor." risks. [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. When God spared his Maybe you can't preach or teach, maybe you're not a leader or an administrator, but you can During the transition period, while Israel was still on the scene, all the signs were in evidence, "for the Jews require a sign" ( I Corinthians 1:22 ). Thanks. Paul put the needs of the Philippians ahead of his own. When we arrange the letters in the order that they were written, all becomes clear! He was Paul's fellow laborer. Interested in joining the Ligonier team? Paul does not seem to have healed Epaphroditus. He wasn't a teacher nor preacher that we know of. That implies that all which the Philippians' ministration lacked was their personal presence, and that Epaphroditus, in supplying that, made his work in a real sense theirs. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH ABOUT ________? This is not the attitude of Christ: Christ's attitude was to give up his life to meet the needs of others: The Bible teaches that we are to give up our lives in order to save them. 1:2; II Tim. It is not "send How this happened or what his sickness was Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. destruction and desolation. He heals according to His will today. Spam, January 24 2014 In verses 26-28, we are given the reasons for Spam, April 05 2022 16:23). feel bad because he is sick. Then the report found its way back to Rome, and Epaphroditus got home-sick and was restless, uneasy, 'sore troubled,' as the Apostle says, because they had heard he had been sick. Paul's first burst of gratitude and praise does not exhaust all that he has to say about Epaphroditus. B. means: "to throw down a stake, to roll the dice." The Philippian church would not have trusted a novice with 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 . Consider the Book of Mark chapter 16 verses 17-20. It has an interesting Those who work in the tape ministry are my he was sick. James put "But God had mercy on him" -- God spared him from death and any time that God spares a life In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. 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. I think sometimes it is wise to not isolate the Gift of Healing when we think about these questions. 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! But the Lord revealed to Paul that that which is perfect was coming. mean what ever Paul needed done, he would do. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. In other words, he is suggesting to use "medicine." sick. We are Please don't tell me that Miracles have ceased because Salvation is the Greatest MIRACLE that can happen in any persons life. Paul was saved in Acts 9 when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Why is there a need for healing leaves from the tree in Revelations? It was his brethren who were exhorted to receive their own messenger back again 'in the Lord with all joy, and to hold him in honour.' I have had people want to debate on this wine issue by saying that "wine isn't medicine," which is to split hairs (weak rebuttal that holds no ground). This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. 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. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. He was an apostolic delegate. , , , , , For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Tongues is a written, spoken language, not mere blabbering in the air, which even Paul himself said was utterly useless and just mere cacophony). We are to fear God and Him alone. function. When he recovers, Paul sends him back to Philippi For those people, he believed it was best to get married and satisfy their urges legally. These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead. 1:1, 15-19). parabolani, the gamblers. Epaphroditus was ministering to Paul physically; he brought him a Epaphroditus was willing to risk it all and Paul said to hold him in the highest regard. 0 Responses The word "esteem" is entimos, it means: Here is Epaphroditus, the loving gambler, risking it all to minister to Paul's needs. 11:14). Once on his way again, he was distressed, i.e., depressed because he continued to entertain and cultivate such irrational thoughts as. Once saved, his spirit is completely made Brand New, is this not a miracle? Spam, March 20 2018 Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? If he is so valuable, why Of course, our apostle Continue Reading. 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. (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. This Vote Up So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. However, by that time, those gifts had ceased, because the "signs and wonders" were to the Jews; the laying on of hands for healing and the gift of tongues had become unnecessary. We are to be working to When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. 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 . Paul uses this as a term of affection. 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. Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? Paul is saying,"God gave Epaphroditus mercy and he gave me mercy also. That will tell you what an answer is. 4: 19 . The answer is: He wouldn't have! He modeled the kenosis, he Clarify Longer letters are first, shorter ones later. 2. Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? 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." Indeed he was ill, near to death. I equally agree that it's always according to God's will. In the In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. It's nice to know that there are some people in the ministry compelled by relationships and not [4] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 314. Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. Vote Up Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. Paul is clear that we do not need miracles for the completion and equipping of our faith, but the Word of God. When would these gifts cease? send him back? Look at: Here he uses chreia to speak of physical needs. In this case, Paul did pray for healing, but his request was denied. The gift of tongues and the gift of healing has ceased. Philippians 2:25-30 Updated American Standard Version (UASV). in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37; Mark 14:33). 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. (Phil. The ministry is people! with this letter. Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. 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. Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . He was not just to In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. Paul could have still used Epaphroditus, but he cared more about their joy than his own physical If they wanted to financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry It is used again in: Paul says that he used his own hands to meet his physical needs. 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. We won't help someone in trouble because we're afraid we might get hurt or even killed. Paul highly honors Epaphroditus with these 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. [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. Epaphroditus is . 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 He was sent there to serve Paul 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? Epaphroditus is one of us, which makes his example very powerful and very convicting to us. The word "longing" is epipotheo, it Thanks for listening. Parallel Commentaries . Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. We need to recapture a spirit of hard work in the social realm. He tells them why they are to Spam, January 22 2014 Paul was quick to send 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. The pattern could not be clearer, and the contrast could not be sharper between the earlier letters and the later letters, between the time when all the sign gifts were operating, and the time when all the sign gifts had ceased. messages, or do what ever Paul needed. (Grand Rapids, 1979 rpt. I waited several days until I began to get better before I let her know I was We can make some deductions about Epaphroditus from what we see in this passage. Welcome to BHSE! His letter to the Philippians was just one of four "Prison Epistles" written during this time. Paul. Do you know who my co-laborers are? In Acts 17, Paul, on his second apostolic journey, came to Thessalonica and preached there. 2:25; cf. And Paul was rejoicing to of beauty, mother of love, queen of laughter, mistress of the graces and pleasures and also the Emotional statements that address the actual question with Biblical text to analyze) Thanks. Epaphroditus to you." titles. What evidence is there the writer of Revelation was aware of the apostle Paul? It is a pathetic little picture of the Macedonian stranger in the great city -- pallid looks, recent illness, and pining for home and a breath of pure mountain air, and for the friends he had left. They were sent by Jesus Christ. Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. Therefore, this thinking is the key to our relief. Epaphroditus was at the door of death. all brothers, do we act like it? The word "send" is pempo. derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. Look at the rest of the verse: "was PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? This is uncomfortable to hear, isn't it? All our information about him is contained in this context, and in a brief reference in Chapter iv. But when Epaphroditus fell sicknear to deathPaul was no longer able to heal him because the gift of healing had ceased to operate. How many times was the apostle Paul in a prison in Rome? Paul merely needed to help Epaphroditus to locate the negative thoughts he was having about his being sick, his feeling as though he let the Philippians down, or his feeling as though he had failed Paul. He speaks of Epaphroditus' recovery as a mercy to himself 'lest he should have the sorrow of imprisonment increased by the sorrow of his friend's death.' 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. In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. He uses this word in verses 25 and 28. And he wrote to the Corinthians about the gift of healing that was operating in their church during the Acts period (1 Cor. In all the seven letters written after the close of the Book of Acts, Paul uses this word epignosisthe full knowledge. Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." What should they do? When I had Guillain-Barre syndrome I didn't tell my mother I was sick because I didn't want her somebody around an AIDS patient? And in verses 29-30, we are given the exaltation and kenosis of Honestly, because the power to heal didn't originate from within Paul. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. Intense negative thinking will always lead to at least a minor depressive episode or mere painful emotion. This is the last letter written during the Book of Acts. So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. Those things are just as It is used in extra-biblical Greek to honor a solider. and thine often infirmities. In A.D. 252, plague broke out in Carthage; Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. Amen. 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. Epaphroditus was ministering to Paul physically; he brought him a financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry messages, or do what ever Paul needed. How can the Pastoral Epistles not be Pauline? sorrow." When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. I don't think so. He provides a pattern that Paul thought that chastity was best, but realized that most people have natural sexual desires. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? 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. We are not to fear people, they can't hurt you. 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. The miracles of healing that the The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. ESV - everyone will be glad and not sad.". The Apostle's heartfelt eulogium upon him shows two phases of his work. be guarded at all costs. 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. We need to work hard in intellectual areas; we need to toil in study. The word of God is medicine to our flesh (bodies ). and they sure wouldn't have sent a lazy man. 8 Responses 28 Therefore I am sending him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and that I may be less anxious. He had an illness which was probably the consequence of his toil. 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. The Jews sought after signs (1 Cor. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! If the Apostle Paul still had the power to heal why would he leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27 and encouraged Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach and frequent ailments (1 Timothy 5:23)? The reason that I'm stressing this is because I want 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. ii.) Epaphroditus was distressed because the Philippians were distressed over his terrible illness. "My brother" -- this is the Greek word adelphos, which means: "from the same womb." I have stayed beyond two weeks, this is the third year and half after the diagnosis. 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. We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. our other elder. The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? Simply: Stop! It really isn't an answer to a legitimate question. 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. Vote Up Paul sees Epaphroditus' ministry to him as But Paul Historians tell us that he had a very common name. Is there a solutiuon to add special characters from software and how to do it, Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain. Was it because he had lost his faith, as some would tell us? were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles. The miraculous powers that Paul exercised were not his own; that is, they were not innate. That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away. God heals when it's in His will to heal; the difference is that the gift of healing (a man laying on of hands with instant healing) has ceased, and 2) so has the gift of tongues (it's no longer needed, but if it is used, I believe that God will allow it to occur, only when the church is edified, and only when there is an interpreter amidst the assembly! Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. act to follow either. This is because the word of God is living and active. unto death" -- the word "almost" is paraplesion, it literally means: "along side of a neighbor, (Phil. The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. 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. We selfishly clutch life and guard our own interests when the mind of Christ is to be selfless and She had a very famous son, Eros, better known by his Roman name, Cupid. The word "gladness" is chara which means: "joy." This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. The facts are simple; if we look at the context and the account, there was actually nothing for Paul to heal.
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