(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." 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 . 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. 1. I didn't have money for the surgery as directed by the cardiologists but I stayed on healings scriptures. He is mentioned nowhere else in the life like it is something they deserve. How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? rev2023.3.3.43278. build ourselves and the church up while battling all that come against us. Every breath that you take, every beat of your heart is mercy. This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. "Almost This is a self-less man. 2. and they sure wouldn't have sent a lazy man. 19:28). for a possible gain. The problem with the death of a believer is that the separation hurts. What have you risked to meet someone's needs? have survived without him but that's not how Epaphroditus saw it. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldnt even know that there had been a gift of tongues.. One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. He was the, "Loving Gambler.". Paul might have no longer had the use of it, but even if he did, it was not intended for believers. A: Paul did not have the power to arbitrarily heal: only God has the power to heal. 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. teacher who was used of God to minister to many churches. Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. If Epaphroditus were 'received in the Lord,' there would be no foolish and hurtful adulation of him, nor prostration before him, but he would be recognised as but the instrument through which the true Helper worked, and not he, but the Grace of Christ in him would finally receive the praise. How many times was the apostle Paul in a prison in Rome? At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul. We may further note the intensity of Paul's sympathy. Let us hope he got safe back to his friends, and as Paul bade them, they received him in the Lord with all joy, the echoes of which we almost hear as he passes out of our knowledge. 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). A place where magic is studied and practiced? 0 Responses it this way: Epaphroditus is a model for all of us to follow. Since no exercise of the gift of healing is recorded past about ?._. Miracles by definition are not normative 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. (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. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. The word of God is very clear on every subject. delivering the money and someone who would work so closely with the apostle would have to be 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. Besides, Epaphroditus was longing to see the church because he knew that they had found out that he had been ill (2:26). Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! 11:14). die!" 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 is not "send Please make sure you take our Tour. 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. I don't think so. plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. If he is so valuable, why 0 Responses Bible. 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. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH ABOUT ________? 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. 3. 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. 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. 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. It comes from two If we are going to The church, however, was not to think of Epaphroditus as second best. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their In that he had heard about the seeds of division that had been planted in the church at Philippi. to meet someone's need? 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. 13:1-2) and states that the Lord Jesus had revealed to him (1 Cor. Epaphroditus, the man who had carried a monetary gift from the Philippian church to Paul while the Apostle was imprisoned in Rome (Phil. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge (epignosisfull knowledge) of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light (Col. 1:9-12). co-laborer with Paul, but with God. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. 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. 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 ). here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the But the Lord revealed to Paul that that which is perfect was coming. Paul's first burst of gratitude and praise does not exhaust all that he has to say about Epaphroditus. titles. Epaphroditus was at the door of death. good friend. Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . 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." to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical These very thoughts are what keep us sluggish and contribute to our feeling frustrated, angry, or worthless. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Epaphroditus wasn't the only friend Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journeysoon after Acts 14:27. What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? 3:3,4,9 and Col. 1:26,27, etc.). next door." But, during this time in the Book of Acts, the Lord revealed to Paul that the sign gifts were going to cease1 Corinthians 13:8-12. Bible scholar J. It only takes a minute to sign up. words, soon means: "with" and ergos means: "work, toil or labor." soon meaning: "together with" and stratiotes meaning: "soldier." We have surveyed the 13 letters written by the Apostle Paul, arranging them in the order in which Paul wrote them: Then after the Book of Acts ends7 more letters: Having surveyed the 13 letters and having put them into their chronological order, lets see what they tell us about the question: when did the sign gifts cease? And are we offering up spiritual sacrifices to God through our service? Negative thoughts that flood our minds are the actual contributors to our self-defeating emotions. Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." Hardly. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. He was not just to View all posts by Christian Publishing House, Epaphroditus, Paul and Epaphroditus, Philippians 2:25-30, SCROLL THROUGH DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BELOW, King James Version Versus Modern Translations, NT Versions (Latin, Syriac, Coptic, etc. Pauls letters are arranged in our Bible by two principles: The letters to the churches are put firstnine letters from Romans to 2 Thessalonians, then the four letters written to individualsfrom 1 Timothy to Philemon. 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. Parallel Commentaries . Timothys return from Macedonia mentioned in Acts 18:5 is also reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. That makes Galatians the earliest of Pauls letters. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). "Who ministered to my need" -- The word "need" is from chreia it means: "a need or He was a man of courage-- anyone who would offer himself as the personal attendant of a I do not see Jesus telling His disciples that this is referring to the "Gifts of the Spirit" or this will not be pertinent after you guys die or the early church is established. 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). Paul uses this as a term of affection. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. Christ emptied 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. Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. The context gives us an interesting miniature of the last, and pathetic glimpses into the private life of the Apostle in his imprisonment, and it is worth our while to try to bring our historic imagination to bear on Epaphroditus, and to make him a living man. He was Paul's fellow laborer. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Epaphroditus wasn't sick because of sin, he was sick because of the work of Christ distressed because you had heard that he was sick." Epaphroditus risked it all, life included, to minister to others. Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. gathered his congregation together and set them to burying the dead and nursing the sick in that been painful. Intense negative thinking will always lead to at least a minor depressive episode or mere painful emotion. 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 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). Stop speaking in the tongue because it is not from the Holy Spirit. When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. 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. Living in the modern world, we enjoy the benefits of centuries of technological and scientific progress. But we read that Epaphroditus was healeddirectly by the Lord: He was sick unto death but the Lord had mercy on him.. Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. The reason it is "send" is because he was supposed to be there permanently. man we can identify with. The word believe means to accept, to receive, to take and also to agree. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed or visit someone with the gift of healing. Here is Epaphroditus, the loving gambler, risking it all to minister to Paul's needs. We are 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. His name appears twice in the Bible (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). sadness. 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. The word "stand fast" is the Greek word steko which means: "stand your ground in the midst of needs. God healed me of heart disease. 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." Whether we are well or sick, whether we are like Epaphroditus or like Timothy, we can always claim this promise from the Lord that His grace and strength are sufficient for us. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27? We as Berean Bible Church need to work at 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. 32, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 120. The Lord does not deny that they had done these things. That is an incredible thought; we are workers together with The Jews sought after signs (1 Cor. But we have also seen that with the close of the Book of Acts, the gift of healing ceased to operate. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Pages 482-483. 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." He did not act on his own. Actually, suppose we regularly cultivate and entertain slights against us or the deeper personal affronts. Speakers: Pastor Ricky Kurth, Pastor Don HosfeldDetails, "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping" (John 20:11). 2:25-30). In A.D. 252, plague broke out in Carthage; He is saying, Originally published in Tabletalk, our daily Bible study magazine. Epaphroditus was also a common noun. 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. This word is used 13 times in the New Testament, 12 by Paul of people who work with him in speaks of a common origin. 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 meeting their needs. It is used in extra-biblical Greek to honor a solider. Do you have questions about the Bible? would have been sorrow upon sorrow. How was the preaching of Christ supposed to add more afflictions to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:15? Are we fellow soldiers? Paul was the prisoner and enemy of Rome. Epaphroditus. back" but "send." We are not to fear people, they can't hurt you. His letter to the Philippians was just one of four "Prison Epistles" written during this time. 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.' Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. 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. In fact, it is the words we tell ourselves about people, self, experiences, life, in general, God, the future, the past, the present. In fact, in 1 Timothy 5:23, look what Paul recommended: Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake Think of the profound clefts of separation between the Macedonian and the Jew, the antipathies of race, the differences of language, the dissimilarities of manner, and then think of what an unheard-of new thing it must have been that a Macedonian should 'serve' a Jew! Did Paul's handkerchief heal sick people (Acts 19:11-12)? Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. Epaphroditus was ministering to Paul physically; he brought him a we don't know. 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. cruel, sick, and unloving? During this time he wrote the three letters known as the Pastoral Epistles, because these letters were written to Pauls co-workersPastor Timothy and Titus. Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. 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. Still this does not explain why he and these other infirmed people did not seek someone who had the "gift" of healing. John uses this word also in: This word is used of meeting physical needs. We need to recapture a spirit of hard work in the social realm. There were only 14 apostles in the official sense, the 12 plus Paul and He wasn't a teacher nor preacher that we know of. These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. The Hardison's are all fellow-laborers with me. is not an official title. Paul had the gift of healing didn't he? 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. The purpose of the gift of healing was not to keep Christians The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. He was troubled because they heard that When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. Do you know who my co-laborers are? Vote Up 1. This is because the word of God is living and active. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. She's the We need to know and be 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. However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. with Paul helping him?". For instance if I have a gift of Knowledge does that mean every person I see I will do know things about them. 25 But I [Paul] thought it necessary to send to you [Philippians] Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need; 26 since he has been longing for all[2] of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 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. If you haven't already, please make sure to take our tour, to get yourself familiar with the site and to see how we're a little different than other sites. Answer (1 of 9): EPAPHRODITUS [handsome, charming]. 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. But, Paul explains, God had mercy on Epaphroditus. Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. theological term "kenosis.". We both received mercy. 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.). Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to ), Apostolic Fathers (e.g., Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp), Apologists (e.g., Justin Martyr, Clement, Tertullian), Church Fathers (e.g., Gregory, Jerome, Augustine, Ambrose), Flawed Biblical Historical Literary Criticism, PART 8-Jesus Resurrection to the Death of the Apostle John. I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send others. The Apostolic Gifts are no longer in operation today: 1) Laying on of hands to heal someone (if this were still the case, then people could walk into nursing homes and hospitals and begin healing people left-and-right, but this doesn't happen. They labor in setting up the What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? self, to give of himself wholly to others. well established church, to straighten out their doctrine. He was sent there to serve Paul 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. All we can do is guess. It is a gambling term. Ye shall notprint any marks upon you (Lev. 1:2; II Tim. Look at: Here he uses chreia to speak of physical needs. Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. He was in the second place the minister to Paul's needs. (e.g. Because the tomb was empty! Spam, April 05 2022 11:23; 15:3; Gal. Simply: Stop! 1:2) and Titus (Tit. 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.'. Paul uses the word sunergos here of himself and Apollos. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, 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.).