back" but "send." Paul sees Epaphroditus' ministry to him as . This is because the word of God is living and active. He was Paul's fellow laborer. 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. 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. 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. It means: "messenger or sent one." We'd like to help. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. And are we offering up spiritual sacrifices to God through our service? The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. ), 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. He modeled the kenosis, he 8 Responses 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. 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). 12:9). Three relate to his relationship with Paul and So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the (2 Timothy 4:20), The power to heal was present in Paul's ministry as described in the book of Acts, 8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mothers womb, who had never walked. from death it is mercy. 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. 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. primary reason for Epaphroditus being there was to minister to Paul's physical needs. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. (verse 30). A place where magic is studied and practiced? others. You were extremely upset and grieved over He says, "We have the same 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 Epaphroditus was not healed is not stated in the text. 1. Why does the Apostle Paul use the verb twice in Philippians 4:2? Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. What does this say to the "health-wealth gospel" statements that address the actual question with Biblical text to analyze) Thanks. It I don't think so. We need to meet people's needs Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. When he recovers, Paul sends him back to Philippi May we not further draw from Paul's words here a lesson as to the honour due to Christian workers? Timothy was sick and he didn't heal him: Why didn't Paul heal his friends? Once saved, his spirit is completely made Brand New, is this not a miracle? Have you ever watched is not an official title. Where was Paul when he wrote to the Philippians? Bible scholar J. In the be guarded at all costs. Spam, March 20 2018 act to follow either. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. great opposition." man we can identify with. Spam, January 24 2014 You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church It was still only in part during the Acts period, but with the close of the Book of Acts, the Lord completed the revelation of the Mystery (see Eph. 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. The gift of tongues and the gift of healing has ceased. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. and stand against the social evils of our day. God. somebody around an AIDS patient? 1:1, 15-19). It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. It is impossible to be sure whether the Philippian Christians thought Epaphroditus had purposefully failed in his mission. Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send It is used 35 times in the New Colossians 1:7 of a different man. Christ emptied 1:22) so God gave them signsamong the Gentiles!in order to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom. 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 . Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? All others were not apostles of Jesus think is a good description of the Christian life in: This is what the Christian's life is all about, building and battling. We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. of beauty, mother of love, queen of laughter, mistress of the graces and pleasures and also the sacrificial. 14:30-33). Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. 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. Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? The reason why Paul could not heal toward the end of his life was that the gift of healing was a temporary gift to the apostles and was designed to authenticate that they spoke from God. In fact, it is the words we tell ourselves about people, self, experiences, life, in general, God, the future, the past, the present. It's nice to know that there are some people in the ministry compelled by relationships and not This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. If the gift of healing was still in operation, it's unlikely that Paul would have said to use something to merely "help" with your "infirmities." In verses 26-28, we are given the reasons for If our hearts are set to 'hallow all we find,' the most secular duties will be acts of worship. Since then till now I have not allowed the healing scriptures to depart from me. The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? Look at: Here he uses chreia to speak of physical needs. needs. 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 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." commissioned and sent out Timothy. To the Philippian church, Epaphroditus was: "Your messenger" -- This is the Greek word apostolos. Remember that God is not a man that He should lie. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles. In all the seven letters written after the close of the Book of Acts, Paul uses this word epignosisthe full knowledge. 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 Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. He was sent by them, he was their It only takes a minute to sign up. Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. Too often our attitude is, "I can't help, I could catch it and The gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. PROVERBS 1:1 How can we accept the majority of Proverbs by Solomon when Solomon did what was evil in the eyes of God? His was a singular fate -- to cross Paul's path, and for one short period of his life to be known to all the world, and for all the rest before and after to be utterly unknown. Paul was imprisoned in Rome for his faith. How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? all brothers, do we act like it? God does heal but its always according to his will,God may have had other plans.We might never know what was God's purpose in these sicknesses. Those things are just as 3:3,4,9 and Col. 1:26,27, etc.). 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. with Paul helping him?". We selfishly clutch life and guard our own interests when the mind of Christ is to be selfless and [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. 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 can make some deductions about Epaphroditus from what we see in this passage. This is the depth of love and care. The word believe means to accept, to receive, to take and also to agree. 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. 3. How can the Pastoral Epistles not be Pauline? Collen - I agree that it always according to God's will not ours. 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. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. Today God no longer gives the gift of healing, and there are no healers. But we should not think that God Himself no longer heals! goddess of love. Paul says, No. (Phil. him to the Philippians so they would rejoice to see that he was okay. However, God, who can do things as He chooses, chose not to immediately heal Epaphroditus. Vote Up This is the only other New Spam, November 06 2014 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. I also believe the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. do without." [7] Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead. Perhaps over-exertion in travel, or perhaps his Macedonian constitution could not bear the enervating air of Rome, or perhaps Paul's prison was unhealthy. 14:18)! gathered his congregation together and set them to burying the dead and nursing the sick in that But the multiplicity of Paul's experience with his companions regarding healing is giving me a sort of concern. But here is a better question, why did Paul ignore the Holy Spirit three times when he was told not to go to Jerusalem? Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. He healed every sick person on the Island of Malta in Acts 28. someone who would represent the church well. 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. This may be the most important message you ever read. He had an illness which was probably the consequence of his toil. 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.. 29 Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. The answer is: He wouldn't have! Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. The Apostle's heartfelt eulogium upon him shows two phases of his work. 1:14). We are to be working to 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. 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! He wrote to the Corinthian church that they came behind no other church when it came to the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. As we have seen, Paul was able to heal many sick people all through the Book of Acts. Look at the rest of the verse: "was 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. 2 Cor. Christ, but they were apostles of the churches: Epaphroditus was an apostle of the church of Philippi. The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. risks. It is all the words that we say to ourselves all the time. On the contrary, Paul considered him his "brother," "fellow-worker," "fellow-soldier," and "their apostle and servant" (2:25). But Paul uses leitourgos here. Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a And in the Acts Epistles we read of the gifts operating in the churches that Paul founded. 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. Take medicine, for example. Vote Up We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. He uses this word in verses 25 and 28. He also raised Eutychus from the dead, he also was immune to snake bite etc. 2:25-30). Emotional In Acts 13,14 Paul and Barnabas went on their first apostolic journey which took them into Galatiacities like Antioch, Lystra, Derbe, etc. He has authored ninety-five books. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. Paul uses this as a term of affection. Asked January 21 2014 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.' Was it because he had lost his faith, as some would tell us? But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy. The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. esteem him in: The word "work" is ergon meaning: "toil, effort, work. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? Epaphroditus was also a common noun. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, 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. But Paul feels bad because Epaphroditus feels bad, because the Philippians the proclamation of the gospel effective. When we arrange the letters in the order that they were written, all becomes clear! At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. Acts 28:25-28 stands as Gods last words to the nation of Israel for nearly two millennia. They had prophesied in Jesus name, they had cast out demons and done miracles in His name. 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). Epaphroditus is one of us, which makes his example very powerful and very convicting to us. The miracles of healing that the He is a co-worker, it's speaking of common effort, diligence. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! What contributes to mental and spiritual anguish? Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. 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. Paul could not heal Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27) "Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and he who ministered to my wants. His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. Vote Up She's the Paul could have still used Epaphroditus, but he cared more about their joy than his own physical 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. Since this book never appeared as Continue Reading, Under the Law of Moses, Gods people in Israel were told What evidence is there the writer of Revelation was aware of the apostle Paul? of the church. Epaphroditus is one of the less known of Paul's friends. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). healthy. 0 Responses My question: If a man believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth Jesus Christ and Him risen, he is Born Again, saved. 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. fulfilling our mission statement: "To influence friends who are living in spiritual darkness that In a while, don't be surprised to have this "answer" you've given disappear. 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 never want to diminish the pain of our suffering, but, during times of trouble, we should also remember the ways God is sustaining us. "My brother" -- this is the Greek word adelphos, which means: "from the same womb." 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). Because I am submitted and 2. ), [6] MM J. H. Moulton and G. Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (London, 191429). I equally agree that it's always according to God's will. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. The word of God is a Spirit. God healed me completely and perfectly today. Miracles by definition are not normative The Philippian church would not have trusted a novice with sickness-- but their concern. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul ext It is here in Ephesus during Acts 19 that Paul wrote 1 Corinthianssee I Corinthians 16:19. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble 3:1-10). sadness. Therefore, Paul sent Epaphroditus back with his letter to the Philippians so that they could stop worrying and rejoice too (2:25-30). 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. What year did Ezra leave Babylon and arrive in Jerusalem? He was not just to 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. Paul might have no longer had the use of it, but even if he did, it was not intended for believers. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to The words "more eagerly" have the idea of: "with haste or diligence." As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. In that he had heard about the seeds of division that had been planted in the church at Philippi. Having seen the pattern of truth regarding the gifts, we need to ask, why did the gifts cease at this time? Thanks. 2:25-27) He likely longed to know that they knew of and understood his circumstances. Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . Therefore, this thinking is the key to our relief. I have stayed beyond two weeks, this is the third year and half after the diagnosis. This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? mean what ever Paul needed done, he would do. 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. Because the tomb was empty! Literally this is "wave after wave of grief.". But to understand when the sign gifts ceased, we need to read Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them. Those thoughts would have contributed to his feelings of frustration, mental anguish, distress, or low self-worth. We are not to fear people, they can't hurt you. be-shem omro)? "But God had mercy on him" -- God spared him from death and any time that God spares a life In other words, he is suggesting to use "medicine." And, again, in places where we would have expected Paul to mention the sign gifts, he is silent. delegate. 11:14). Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. needs. View all posts by Christian Publishing House, UASV DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022. The reason that I'm stressing this is because I want We have work to do, He's probably one of the greatest Christians that ever lived. Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to It means for any gift that you and I will receive from Him by the Holy Spirit is premised on your ability to accept,take, agree or receive without doubt His word which comes as a command, law, or instruction. When I had Guillain-Barre syndrome I didn't tell my mother I was sick because I didn't want her Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? soon meaning: "together with" and stratiotes meaning: "soldier." Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. the heathen threw out the bodies of their dead and fled in terror. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.
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