everyone will be glad and not sad.". Jesus said the greatest honor among his followers belongs to the one who renders the 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be [f]made well, 10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet. And he leaped up and began to walk. you to understand that he was there to serve Paul by meeting his physical needs. empty ourselves to make ourselves of no reputation. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. The name Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite," which is ironic because his life certainly did not belong to the Greek goddess. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. Epaphroditus had made a 600-mile journey from Philippi to Rome, an 80-day journey on foot round trip, which was fatiguing, to visit the apostle Paul. But, Paul explains, God had mercy on Epaphroditus. January 23 2014 Report The normal word He was sent there to serve Paul On the contrary, Paul considered him his "brother," "fellow-worker," "fellow-soldier," and "their apostle and servant" (2:25). How many times was the apostle Paul in a prison in Rome? 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. This is because the word of God is living and active. Why? Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. 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. By that I At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. No matter where you go you can find God's family. Those who couldn't be 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. 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. Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible and What Can We Learn from Him? He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the 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. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Please make sure you take our Tour. Since this book never appeared as Continue Reading, Under the Law of Moses, Gods people in Israel were told Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? He tells us in verses 26-28. 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. sick. In his low, nervous state, barely convalescent, the thought of home and of his brethren's anxiety about him was too much for him. He modeled the kenosis, he Epaphroditus was one with Paul in sympathy, one with him in work, and one with him in danger. Yes, they really had had these experiences. with this letter. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. 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? James (Gal. Longer letters are first, shorter ones later. Paul was imprisoned in Rome for his faith. Although many people have concerns about the cost of healthcare, the vast majority of people in our culture still have access to antibiotics and other medications that can cure ailments that were almost certainly death sentences only a few decades ago. As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. Because the tomb was empty! [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. God's sparing of Epaphroditus' life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. 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. It only takes a minute to sign up. others. I have hid them in my heart. 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. needs could be involved here, he ministered to Paul in the area of companionship also. Did Paul's handkerchief heal sick people (Acts 19:11-12)? Vote Up Epaphroditus was sent by the church at Philippi with gifts of support to bring to Paul who was living under house arrest in Rome. Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. 1:22) so God gave them signsamong the Gentiles!in order to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom. Vote Up 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. The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. Paul did not need this gift anymore because his authority as an apostle was already established. goddess of luck. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. children so you can listen to the Word of God. 1000 Chattanooga Street Epaphroditus wasn't sick because of sin, he was sick because of the work of Christ 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. All things are possible to them that believe Mark 9:23. One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. Testament, 20 of them refer to physical sickness. But neither does it say Paul attempted to heal him and failed. Proverbs 4:20-23. Here Paul writes of the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge (see 1 Cor. (See below left). The text does say, God had mercy on him [that is, Ephaphroditus], so, in all likelihood, he would have died from whatever ailed him if God had not prevented him from going over the edge into death. We are to fear God and Him alone. In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. 5:23) and Paul cant heal him, doesnt recommend that he go to a healer in the church, doesnt send a prayer cloth or a bottle of anointing oil (remember the miracles of some 8 years earlier in Acts 19:11-12). The next letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? 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 In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. 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. In verses 26-28, we are given the reasons for Take medicine, for example. adherents? Ministering to others' physical needs is a spiritual priestly 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. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit did not want someone healed or raised from the dead, no amount of effort by Paul could do so. This is the depth of love and care. They had prophesied in Jesus name, they had cast out demons and done miracles in His name. Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journeysoon after Acts 14:27. 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy. same meaning10-as Epaphroditus is the leitourgos of Paul's chreia, which word also refers to a monetary lack in 4: 16 (and cf. We have also to notice Paul's delicate recognition of all friendly help. We are to follow the example of Christ who "emptied word that has the idea of: "not at home, uncomfortable, troubled, or distressed.". him to the Philippians so they would rejoice to see that he was okay. Paul was a great theologian, he knew that death for a Christian was a promotion, an end of pain I think that in our day the church has lost the ergos, the work, toil, or effort that we should be But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When is the last time you set aside something on your agenda The Book of Acts is replete with 'transitional stages' that are pivotal in the understanding of why all of these changes took place, and why, later, we see different signs no longer being used, or no longer operational in the sense of "signs and wonders," etc. 1. Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed or visit someone with the gift of healing. Philippians had heard that he was sick. What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? The principle here is that "God exalts the humble." derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. We as Berean Bible Church need to work at It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. When is the last time that this happened to you? Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . 13:8).1. We need to reach out and take back three areas of toil that used to be so much a part The word "necessary" is the Greek word anagkaios, it means: "indispensable, what one cannot Greek He was sick Edward D. Andrews wrote. Spam, March 31 2022 The fact that Paul performed many miracles means that he exercised divine power at the behest of the divine will. impact our society, if we are going to be effective in our evangelism, we need to quit selfishly sadness. If we are going to He wasn't an incredibly gifted man but he was committed totally to This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. Actually, suppose we regularly cultivate and entertain slights against us or the deeper personal affronts. 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. And in the Acts Epistles we read of the gifts operating in the churches that Paul founded. Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. The gift of healing had ceased to operate, along with the other sign gifts. That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away. Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a Welcome to BHSE! The answer is: He wouldn't have! 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? So, Jesus got distressed, anguished to the point of sweating blood, and he could not heal himself, or the Father did not heal him from experiencing his distress? 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. 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. sisters in Christ in other countries. 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. been painful. Colossians 1:7 of a different man. He did not act on his own. The Healing of Epaphroditus and Healing Today Philippians 2:25-30 the average person can relate to. 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. used for minister is deokonos -- deacon. , , , , , 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. that Paul didn't heal. Bible Query from Philippians The word believe means to accept, to receive, to take and also to agree. Following Christ's example, we should be willing to lay down our lives to meet the needs of By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. And are we offering up spiritual sacrifices to God through our service? 19:28). [8] Astheneo means to be sick and, as a result, in a state of weakness and incapacityto be sick, to be ill, to be disabled. Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 269. The power of working miracles, like that of foreseeing the future (comp. I think sometimes it is wise to not isolate the Gift of Healing when we think about these questions. The answer is: He wouldn't have! It is a gambling term. "valued or honored, to hold one dear or in honor, to prize, to deem precious." 2:27). He heals according to His will today. In the 3 Pastoral Epistles, as in the prison epistles, we do not read of tongues or the gift of healing operating at this time. The first one suggested is the very familiar one of the great uniting principle which a common faith in Christ brought into action. The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. Thanks. Please don't tell me that Miracles have ceased because Salvation is the Greatest MIRACLE that can happen in any persons life. [7] Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. This . 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992). Is there a Bible contradiction in Philippians 2:25? - Defending Inerrancy All our information about him is contained in this context, and in a brief reference in Chapter iv. of beauty, mother of love, queen of laughter, mistress of the graces and pleasures and also the The letters are also arranged by lengthRomans is longest and is first, then the Corinthian letters, then Galatians, etc. Epaphroditus is one of the less known of Paul's friends. Why didn't Paul healed Epaphroditus and Trophimus? 2 Cor. Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. Therefore, this thinking is the key to our relief. 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. No one was more charismatic than the Apostle Paul. Timothys return from Macedonia mentioned in Acts 18:5 is also reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. they also may know the joy of loving the Lord Jesus Christ." we don't know. 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). Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." PDF Do the Gifts of Healing, Prophecy and Tongues Still Exist - Wenstrom It was used as a sign gift to unbelievers at those times when it was necessary to make This is uncomfortable to hear, isn't it? What did the apostle Paul use the gift of tongues for? Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. 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. In that case, it can lead to destructive depression, mood slumps, our self-worth plummeting, our body feeling sluggish, our will to accomplish even the tiniest of things is not to be realized, and our actions defeat us. God healed me completely and perfectly today. Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. Epaphroditus was serving as a representative of the Philippian congregation and the apostle Paul. How was the preaching of Christ supposed to add more afflictions to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:15? The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. himself and God exalted him. able to defend doctrine. We selfishly clutch life and guard our own interests when the mind of Christ is to be selfless and It is also hard to identify with Timothy who was a duplicate of Paul, he's no easy 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. 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. 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). serve, you can meet physical needs. What to do? No, the answer is that God's program had changed. Paul's first burst of gratitude and praise does not exhaust all that he has to say about Epaphroditus. I have stayed beyond two weeks, this is the third year and half after the diagnosis. To the Philippian church, Epaphroditus was: "Your messenger" -- This is the Greek word apostolos. Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. Isn't that Figuratively, it Spam, March 20 2018 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. Epaphroditus was a Christian who lived in Philippi. 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. The apostle Paul had a variety of Gifts including tongues, prophecy and teaching. Thanks. have survived without him but that's not how Epaphroditus saw it. 4 Life Lessons from Epaphroditus | Josh Daffern - New Wineskins someone who would represent the church well. All references have been taken from the New King James Version. Who carried the Epistles - Tyndale House 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. ), 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. Look at the rest of the verse: "was There is healing today, but there is no gift of healing, there are no divine healers. There is no gift of healing today but God still heals sometimes. 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. good friend. do without." The But to understand when the sign gifts ceased, we need to read Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them. He hazzard his life "to supply what was lacking in your service toward It is possible for us in the ordering of our own lives to fulfil the great prophecy with which Zechariah crowned his vision of the Future, 'In that day shall there be on the bells of the horses Holiness unto the Lord'; and the 'pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.'. Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. 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 may further note the intensity of Paul's sympathy. All this was done in a church in Austin, Texas with an Evangelist from Virginia working through the Gifts of the Spirit, ie, Word of Knowledge, working of miracles, gifts of healing. The Lord does the same thing for us today, although the little blessings He provides often go unnoticed. The first 6 of Pauls letters can be fit into the Book of Actswe can read Acts and then read Pauls letters and we can see where Paul was when he wrote these letters. He was in the second place the minister to Paul's needs. The word "reputation" is the Greek word kenoo, it means: "to make empty." What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? be-shem omro)? Epaphroditus: A Gambling Veteran - Associates for Biblical Research 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. What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? He was in the first place Paul's helper in the Gospel, and his faithfulness there is set forth in a glowing climax, 'My brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier.' In the 9. Timothy and Epaphroditus Two Examples of Humility and - Bible Notice that it was the work "of Christ." >From this verb we get the Paul was quick to send If our hearts are set to 'hallow all we find,' the most secular duties will be acts of worship. 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. Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. This ministry. Stop speaking in the tongue because it is not from the Holy Spirit. What does the Bible say about prayer for the sick? But Paul uses leitourgos here. We don't Of note: Reference Hebrews 6:2-3 which says: "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. The gift of healing by the laying on of hands, etc., was no longer needed, because that particular gift was a gift for a sign to the Jews! necessity, that which is lacking." 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 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. I also believe the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. It is here in Ephesus during Acts 19 that Paul wrote 1 Corinthianssee I Corinthians 16:19. (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. That will tell you what an answer is. What we do know for sure is that Epaphroditus illness was so severe that he almost died (v. 27). The purpose of the gift of healing was not to keep Christians 14:18)! He uses this word in verses 25 and 28. commissioned and sent out Timothy. Is there a solutiuon to add special characters from software and how to do it, Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain. programs. 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. We are not to selfishly guard our lives, we are to give them away in ministry to others. Epaphroditus was also a common noun. Parallel Commentaries . "Who ministered to my need" -- The word "need" is from chreia it means: "a need or They were to receive him "in the Lord." The word "gladness" is chara which means: "joy." words, soon means: "with" and ergos means: "work, toil or labor." He tells them why they are to Philippians 2:25-30 Updated American Standard Version (UASV). Spam, February 08 2023 esteem him in: The word "work" is ergon meaning: "toil, effort, work. Love never fails. Consider the Book of Mark chapter 16 verses 17-20. 1:4). 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. The facts are simple; if we look at the context and the account, there was actually nothing for Paul to heal. Paul would Even medical doctors who are saved will tell you they rely on the power of God all the time and will encourage their patients to rely on God Who is the only healer. 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. Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. Shortly after that Paul traveled to Macedonia (see Acts 20:1 and 2 Cor. 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! We must not leave unnoticed the beautiful self-abnegation which sends off Epaphroditus as soon as he was well enough to travel, as a gift of the Apostle's love, in order to repay them for what they had done for him.
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