This is because the word of God is living and active. He comes back to the theme in the last words of the context, where he says that the Philippian messenger had 'hazarded' his life, or, as we might put it with equal accuracy and more force, had 'gambled' his life, or 'staked it on the die' for Paul's sake. That will tell you what an answer is. Because a wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills. It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. Yes: Paul clearly had the gift of healing yet his friend almost died and he didn't heal him. 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)? Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. We have work to do, (verse 30). speaks of a common origin. Did Paul's handkerchief heal sick people (Acts 19:11-12)? "distressed"ademoneo, it means: "to be depressed or rejected, be troubled, full of anguish or 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. Then he goes on to say that he was Paul was saved in Acts 9 when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus. 2. 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. But we read that Epaphroditus was healeddirectly by the Lord: He was sick unto death but the Lord had mercy on him.. The answer is: He wouldn't have! Are we a sunergos, a fellow worker? Asked January 21 2014 Having seen the pattern of truth regarding the gifts, we need to ask, why did the gifts cease at this time? The word of God is very clear on every subject. But then He tells them that even while they were doing these things, He had never ever known them. Actually, suppose we regularly cultivate and entertain slights against us or the deeper personal affronts. would have been sorrow upon sorrow. Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to Epaphroditus is one of the less known of Paul's friends. 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. It's only of God's sovereign 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). 1. 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. Paul was a great theologian, he knew that death for a Christian was a promotion, an end of pain 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. He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the been painful. But the Lord revealed to Paul that that which is perfect was coming. Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. This is uncomfortable to hear, isn't it? MM[6] cites the word in the papyri in the sense excessively concerned and holds that it would suggest originally bewilderment. The combination makes it clear that Jesus was in great distress of spirit.[7]. It was used as a sign gift to unbelievers at those times when it was necessary to make church each week. to worry about me. "Almost Anonymous, January 21 2014 emptied himself. In other words, he is suggesting to use "medicine." In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. Hardly. 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. Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. Paul had the gift of healing didn't he? history, used all through the LXX to refer to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant and the honor him. 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. Testament, 20 of them refer to physical sickness. We need to work hard in intellectual areas; we need to toil in study. sickness-- but their concern. Besides, Epaphroditus was longing to see the church because he knew that they had found out that he had been ill (2:26). You were extremely upset and grieved over 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. The principle here is that "God exalts the humble." Timothy and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:19-30) Paul commends Epaphroditus very highly for his faithfulness even unto death. That is what God calls us to. everyone will be glad and not sad.". 8 Responses Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). Shortly after that Paul traveled to Macedonia (see Acts 20:1 and 2 Cor. 8 Responses The letters are also arranged by lengthRomans is longest and is first, then the Corinthian letters, then Galatians, etc. Of course, our apostle Continue Reading. (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." the proclamation of the gospel effective. 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. Why Did the Philippians Send Paul a Gift? | Zondervan Academic Paul was the prisoner and enemy of Rome. Perhaps Paul said this precisely because the Philippians might be tempted to judge Epaphroditus for being ill, concluding that he was being chastised by God for some secret or even scandalous sin. Do you have questions about the Bible? 14:18)! 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! 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. looked at it as "spiritual worship." means: "to abase, naturalize, to make of none effect, of no reputation." plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 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. When Did the Gift of Tongues Cease? | Berean Bible Society He is a co-worker, it's speaking of common effort, diligence. serve, you can meet physical needs. Epaphroditus was a Christian who lived in Philippi. In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. 2 Responses 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. lowest service. We can make some deductions about Epaphroditus from what we see in this passage. Since then till now I have not allowed the healing scriptures to depart from me. goddess of luck. It really isn't an answer to a legitimate question. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. So, in short, Epaphroditus grew sick on his 600-mile journey to Rome, to the point of death, which delayed him from fulfilling his mission of helping Paul. He knew they would be sad and their sadness has greatly affected him-- not his Maybe you can't preach or teach, maybe you're not a leader or an administrator, but you can But here is a better question, why did Paul ignore the Holy Spirit three times when he was told not to go to Jerusalem? fellow laborers, they send out what I teach to others around the country. We won't help someone in trouble because we're afraid we might get hurt or even killed. All through the Book of Acts Paul had only gnosis, partial knowledge of the message of grace, but when we turn to the Prison Letters we suddenly find Paul using that word epignosishe had now received that full knowledge which he didnt have when he wrote to the Corinthians: For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge (epignosisfull knowledge) of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ (Col. 2:1-2). 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. This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. where it ends for many, they are brothers, but not for Epaphroditus. meeting their needs. for a possible gain. He is mentioned nowhere else in the Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. A man who never opens his lips but to censure or criticise, who fastens on faults as wasps do on blemished fruit, will never be surrounded by loyal love. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was Paul was imprisoned in Rome for his faith. know that they were rejoicing. 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. Colossians 1:7 of a different man. The miracles of healing that the The normal word What Is the Difference Between 'Man' And 'Son of Man' in Num 23:19? So Epaphroditus was sent to take care of Paul because Paul was imprisoned under house arrest, and in the end Epaphroditus became a burden to Paul because he almost died and Paul had to. 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. 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. What Does Philippians 4:13 Mean, 'I Can Do All Things through Christ'? When he recovers, Paul sends him back to Philippi The Apostle's heartfelt eulogium upon him shows two phases of his work. It Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. 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. we are all from the same womb, we're family. necessity, that which is lacking." 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. However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. The context is that Paul was suggesting for this brother to use wine to help him with his stomach sickness. be guarded at all costs. But neither does it say Paul attempted to heal him and failed. By that I It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. 2 Cor. The kenosis of Christ is the attitude that he had that led him to divest himself of any concern for It is not confined to Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. Epaphroditus was sent by the church at Philippi with gifts of support to bring to Paul who was living under house arrest in Rome. We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? healthy. Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles. 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.
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